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Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-IV)
The Diagnostic Statistical Manual DSM
is the manual mental health professionals consult for
characteristics of mental disorders. The manual has had a category
for Pathological Gambling since 1980. The ten criteria in the most
recent version, the DSM-IV, are used as one of the guidelines along
with other diagnostic tools to indicate the severity of a gambling
problem. A score of five or more is categorized as pathological
gambling, but a score of three or four could indicate a serious
concern for the problems gambling is creating in one's life.
Diagnostic Criteria for 312.31 Pathological Gambling
A. Persistent and recurrent
maladaptive gambling behavior as indicated by five (or more) of the
following:
-
is preoccupied with gambling (e.g.,
preoccupied with reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or
planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get money with
which to gamble)
-
needs to gamble with increasing
amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement
-
has repeated unsuccessful efforts to
control, cut back, or stop gambling
-
is restless or irritable when
attempting to cut down or stop gambling
-
gambles as a way of escaping from
problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of
helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depresion)
-
after losing money gambling, often
returns another day to get even ("chasing" one's losses)
-
lies to family members, therapist, or
others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling
-
has committed illegal acts such as
forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement to finance gambling
-
has jeopardized or lost a significant
relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of
gambling
-
relies on others to provide money to
relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling
B. The gambling behavior is not
better accounted for by a Manic Episode.
Richard Rosenthal, M.D. & Henry
Lesieur, Ph.D. |
