A Sociodemographic Profile of Pathological Gamblers Receiving Residential Treatment in Czech Psychiatric Hospitals
Abstract
A comprehensive research study of the consequences of gambling careers which describes the target population of gamblers with regard to their risky personality traits and comorbidities such as disturbed relationships is lacking in the Czech Republic. While the majority of both outpatient and residential treatment facilities are currently facing this issue, the information that practitioners can use in treating pathological gambling is limited.
AIMS: To present the partial results of a descriptive and qualitative substudy which seeks to describe the target group of gamblers in residential treatment with regard to their sociodemographic profile, preferred types of gambling, family environment characteristics, and experience with other addictive substances. METHODS: Semistructured interviews.
SAMPLE: 147 clients admitted to the Bohnice, Kroměříž, and Opava psychiatric hospitals with the diagnosis F 63.0, pathological gambling; interviews were finally administered to 139 of them. RESULTS: in comparison to the general population, the sample appears more problematic in a number of aspects, as it shows a higher level of various risk factors and psychiatric comorbidities, including a high prevalence of substance use, dual diagnoses, family predispositions, and employment status.
A tendency towards the early termination of the educational process and an increased level of disability has also been recorded. Among all gambling behaviours, VLT gaming seems to predominate in the sample.