Gambling addiction: myth or reality? Analysing the scientific evidence on gambling disorder.

Authors

  • Gemma Mestre-Bach International University of La Rioja (Spain).
  • Eduardo Valenciano-Mendoza University Hospital of Bellvitge (Spain).
  • Bernat Mora-Maltas University Hospital of Bellvitge (Spain).
  • Fernando Fernández-Aranda University Hospital of Bellvitge (Spain).
  • Susana Jiménez-Murcia University Hospital of Bellvitge (Spain).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.12.18490

Keywords:

gambling disorder, behavioral addiction, mental disorder, epidemiology, etiology, treatment

Abstract

Interest in gambling disorder, formerly known as pathological gambling, has been growing in both the clinical and scientific community. The increase in empirical evidence concerning gambling disorder has allowed for a better understanding of the pathology, as well as the identification of common comorbidities and the design of potential therapeutic options. The present review addresses all these issues, including recent findings in this area of study.

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Author Biographies

Gemma Mestre-Bach, International University of La Rioja (Spain).

Graduate in Psychology from the University of Barcelona with a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and in Sexual and Couple Therapy from the European Foundation, a Master's degree in Third Generation Therapies from the Valencian International University, and a Master's degree in Criminological and Victimological Intervention from the Miguel Hernández University. PhD in Medicine and Traslational Research from the University of Barcelona. She is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the International University of La Rioja (Spain).

Eduardo Valenciano-Mendoza, University Hospital of Bellvitge (Spain).

Graduate in Sociology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and in Psychology from the University of Barcelona. Predoctoral researcher at the Psychiatry Department of the University Hospital of Bellvitge (Spain). His areas of interest are non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviour in disorders related to impulsivity (mainly gambling disorder and bulimic spectrum disorders).

Bernat Mora-Maltas, University Hospital of Bellvitge (Spain).

Graduate in Psychology from the University of Barcelona. Specialist in Neuropsychology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, with a Master's degree in General Health Psychology (UB). Predoctoral researcher at the Psychiatry Department of the University Hospital of Bellvitge (Spain). His area of interest is cognitive functioning and its implication in non-substance behavioural addictions (mainly gambling disorder and eating disorders) and in the neuropsychological intervention of this type of disorders.

Fernando Fernández-Aranda, University Hospital of Bellvitge (Spain).

PhD in Psychology from the University of Hamburg (Germany) and specialist in Clinical Psychology. He is currently the coordinator of the Eating Disorders Unit of the Psychiatry Service of the University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL (Spain) and an associate professor at the Department of Clinical Sciences of the University of Barcelona. He is also the Group Leader of the Network of Excellence in Research on the Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn) at the Carlos III Health Institute.

Susana Jiménez-Murcia, University Hospital of Bellvitge (Spain).

PhD in Psychology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and specialist in Clinical Psychology. She holds a Master's degree in Behavioural Medicine and Clinical Psychology (UAB). Coordinator of the Unit of Pathological Gambling and other Addictive Behaviours of the Psychiatry Department of the University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL (Spain). She also works as an associate professor at the Department of Clinical Sciences of the University of Barcelona and is co-principal investigator of the Network of Excellence in Research on the Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn) of the Carlos III Health Institute. 

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Published

2022-02-02

How to Cite

Mestre-Bach, G., Valenciano-Mendoza, E., Mora-Maltas, B., Fernández-Aranda, F., & Jiménez-Murcia, S. (2022). Gambling addiction: myth or reality? Analysing the scientific evidence on gambling disorder. Metode Science Studies Journal, (12), 95–101. https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.12.18490
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Issue

The future of science (2022)

Section

Willpower hijacked. The science of addictions

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