For most people, gambling is an enjoyable and harmless activity. However, for a small minority, gambling can become both addictive and problematic. Pathological gambling appears in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) in the category “impulse control disorder not elsewhere classified” along with other disorders such as kleptomania or pyromania (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Generally, pathological gambling can be described as a persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior that disrupts personal, family, or vocational pursuits. The DSM-IV criteria highlight loss of control, with-drawal symptoms, tolerance as well as relapse and suggest a strong similarity to substance abuse disorders, although unique (gambling-specific) characteristics are also evident (e.g., chasing).
Access provided by Autonomous University of Puebla. Download to read the full chapter text
Chapter PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hayer, T., Griffiths, M., Meyer, G. (2005). Gambling. In: Gullotta, T.P., Adams, G.R. (eds) Handbook of Adolescent Behavioral Problems. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23846-8_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23846-8_21
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-23845-6
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-23846-3
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)