The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER, Vol 2(30) - Gender Differences in Gambling Relapse

Individuals recovering from disordered gambling relapse to their previous gambling-related activities for a variety of reasons. To examine these reasons, Littman-Sharp of the Donwood Problem Gambling Program and Stirpe of the Addiction Research Foundtion created an Inventory of Gambling Situations (IGS)*. The IGS identifies specific situations that can trigger relapse for gamblers who are struggling to recover. Modeled on the Inventory of Drinking Situations**, the IGS lists 100 situations that are potential triggers for relapse to gambling. Clients rate whether they never, rarely, frequently, or almost always gambled heavily in each situation in the past year. Once these triggers are... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol 2(29) - Treatment of Patients With Multiple Addictions

Individuals with disordered gambling often struggle with other addictive behaviors, such as tobacco and alcohol dependence. In addition, some patients who recover from a gambling problem substitute intoxicant use for their previous gambling activity. Similarly, some individuals who no longer abuse substances begin to gamble. The interconnections between substance abuse and pathological gambling are not often addressed in treatment settings that focus exclusively on one addiction. The South Oaks Hospital in New York offers an addictions program that treats alcoholism, chemical dependency, and compulsive gambling. Clinicians screen patients admitted for one of these three problems for the presence of the... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol 2(28) - Screening for Pathological Gambling: A 2-Question Test

Short screening instruments for identifying pathological gambling can be useful in clinical settings where clinicians have limited time and often need to collect a variety of different data from each patient. From a research perspective, a shorter instrument that is valid and reliable can measure the same construct (e.g., pathological gambling) as a longer instrument in a more efficient manner. Recently, Johnson & colleagues* developed a 2-question version of the DSM-IV criteria for screening pathological gambling. Their research goal was to assess the minimum number of items from a 12-item questionnaire based on the DSM-IV that would differentiate dependably between... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol 2(27) - Professional & Pathological Gambling

Professional gamblers such as “Nick the Greek” Dandolos and “Pittsburgh Phil” devoted much time and energy to gambling. Characteristics of these two legendary professional gamblers include an excellent memory, intense concentration, self-discipline, and tremendous self-confidence*. Some professional gamblers have used extreme strategies to influence game results. For example, professional dice players have undergone surgical procedures in which magnets were implanted into the fingertips of the third and fourth digits of the shooting hand**. The gambler with these implanted magnets can influence the outcome of the game when using dice with a metallic core. The Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol 2(26) - Betting on Boxing

Nevada is the only place in the U.S. where betting on college and professional sports is legal, apart from the Oregon Lottery1. Legal sports betting, decreased stigma attached to sports betting, and improved settings for sports betting within casinos have all contributed to increasing sports wagering popularity since 1982. Although boxing is not one of the primary sports betting activities in Nevada (see chart)*, a former vice president of MGM Grand commented that boxing matches, more than any other hotel event, attract high-rollers2. Gamblers who placed a bet on the Tyson-Holyfield fight on June 28th encountered an unusual situation. Mike... Read more →