MIDAS Project
Publication Abstracts
Breen, R.B. & Zimmerman, M. (2005), Rapid onset of pathological
gambling in machine gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies,
2005, 18, 31-43.
A particularly rapid onset of pathological gambling (PG-onset)
through the use of gambling machines has been widely alluded to,
but this is the first study to empirically examine the phenomenon.
This study compared the latency of PG-onset in those who gambled
primarily on machines, compared to those who gambled primarily on
more "traditional" forms of gambling at PG-onset. Subjects
were 44 adult pathological gamblers (PGs) seeking outpatient treatment
in Rhode Island (17 females; mean age=46.9). Subjects completed
questionnaires and a diagnostic interview including a complete history
of gambling activities and the course of PG. The "latency"
of PG-onset was defined as the time (in years) elapsed between the
age of regular involvement in the primary form of gambling and the
age at which DSM-IV criteria were first met. "Machine"
PGs (n=25) had a significantly shorter latency of onset than did
"traditional" PGs (1.08 years vs. 3.58 years). Females
and machine PGs had a significantly older age of onset, but gender
was not associated with latency of PG-onset. Lifetime comorbidity
of either substance use disorders (SUDS) or depressive disorders
(DDS) was also not associated with the latency of PG-onset. The
results of the current study suggest that intrapersonal variables
such as gender and comorbid disorders do not generally affect the
speed with which people develop PG. Rather, the social, environmental,
and stimulus features of mechanized gambling are implicated. Prospective
longitudinal studies on the onset and course of PG are needed, as
well as more basic research on the features of machine gambling
that may contribute to rapid onset.
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