Psychiatric symptoms in problem gambling and non-problem gambling substance abusers

This study compared demographic characteristics, Addiction Severity Index ( ASI) ratings and psychiatric symptoms in 103 substance abusers with and wit hout gambling problems. Thirty-one of the substance abusers were identified as probable pathological gamblers on the South Oaks Gambling Screen. Altho ugh no differences in demographic characteristics or ASI ratings were noted between the groups, subjects with a gambling problem consistently reported more psychiatric distress than substance abusers without a gambling proble m. Specifically, they had increased ratings on somatization, obsessive-comp ulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, and paranoia scales. These re sults are discussed in terms of the need to identify and treat gambling pro blems among substance abusers.