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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Rani A. Desai, MPH, PhD, Laura B. Kozma, BA, and Marc N. Potenza, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Yale University, NEPEC/182, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516, 203-932-5711 x3729, laura.kozma@yale.edu

There has not been much research on schizophrenia and problem gambling. However, people with schizophrenia are vulnerable to other addictions including substance related disorders. Therefore, people with schizophrenia who gamble may be particularly vulnerable to gambling related problems, and as many of these individuals have limited incomes, the negative effects may potentially be great. A cross sectional study of 337 consumers being treated for schizophrenia were interviewed and assessed on gambling and mental health and functioning measures. The sample was divided into Non-Gamblers (NG), Recreational Gamblers (RG) and Problem/Pathological Gamblers (PPG) (those with 3 or more symptoms of PPG). Ordinal logistic regression was used to assess risk factors for gambling behavior. This sample had a much higher rate of PPG (19.3%) than published community rates (5%). Controlling for demographic, clinical and functional measures, factors associated with RG were female gender (p=.023) and outpatient mental health visit in the last month (p=.05). Factors associated with PPG were alcohol abuse/dependence (p=.007), depression (p=.035), mental health visits (p=.028) and time spent with a significant other (p=.008). Those with PPG were more likely to report age of gambling onset younger than 18 (p=.037) and a higher average number of days gambled in the last year (p=.000). This study suggests that people with schizophrenia have high rates of PPG and highlights the comorbidity of gambling and alcohol abuse/dependence in this population. Addressing gambling as well as gambling and alcohol use in screening and treatment is essential in this at-risk population.

Learning Objectives:

• Define types of gambling in people with schizophrenia
• Articulates factors associated with gambling in people with schizophrenia and differences in gambling variables between the two gambling groups
• Discuss screening and treatment tools to be used for this population

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.ppt format, 95.5 kb)