Gambling and Suicidality in Treatment-Seeking Pathological Gamblers

• DOI: 10.1097/01.nmd.0000142021.71880.ce
• Publication Date: 2004-09-29T08:11:18Z
• Authors: David M. Ledgerwood; Nancy M. Petry
• Keywords: Male; Suicide Prevention; Personality Inventory; Suicide, Attempted; Dissociative Disorders; Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Severity of Illness Index; 3. Good health; Suicide; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Risk Factors; Adaptation, Psychological; Gambling; Impulsive Behavior; Humans; Female

One hundred twenty-five adult participants recruited from gambling treatment centers were included in an examination of gambling-related suicidal ideation and attempt. In this sample, 48% (N = 60) had a history of gambling-related suicidal ideation, and an additional 12% (N = 15) reported at least one gambling-related suicide attempt. Measures of gambling experience, impulsiveness, and dissociation were evaluated across groups. Level of suicidality was associated with greater gambling severity, gambling escape, dissociation and attention seeking, impulsivity, and generalized dissociative experience, but not with other psychological indices such as empathy or venturesomeness. The implications of these findings for the identification and treatment of gamblers at risk for suicide are discussed.