Session: Gambling and Mental Health

4224.0: Tuesday, November 9, 2004: 2:30 PM-4:00 PM

Oral

Gambling and Mental Health

Gambling has become an increasingly popular and socially accepted behavior. However, relatively little research has been performed on the impact of gambling, both positive and negative, on mental health. This series of presentations will: (1) describe gambling from a public health perspective; (2) describe public health implications of gambling in Canada, a country in which the federal government owns, operates and oversees most if not all gambling enterprises; (3) describe the mental health correlates of recreational gambling using data derived from the 1998 Gambling Impact and Behavior Study; (4) describe the biological basis for pathological gambling and medication treatments for the disorder; and (5) describe results from several large-scale behavioral treatment trials for people with problem or pathological gambling. A discussion following the presentation is planned to discuss the public health implications of gambling.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to: (1) appreciate the impact of gambling on mental health from a public health perspective; (2) understand differences between recreational, problem and pathological gambling; and (3) understand current behavioral and pharmacological treatments for problem and pathological gambling.

Moderator(s):

Marc N. Potenza, MD, PhD

2:30 PM

Viewing Gambling from a Public Health Perspective