Variables psicológicas y psicopatológicas en el juego patológico

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare the demographic, psychological and psychopathological features of pathological fruit machine gamblers and bingo players. Similarly, psychopathological and psychological differences were observed between those pathological gamblers in the sample who abused substances and those who did not. The sample was composed of 153 pathological gamblers, 79% (N=120) with fruit machines and 22% (N=33) in bingo-halls. In the sample 14% abused substances, whereas the remaining 86% did not. All the patients sought treatrnent in the Pathological Cambling Unit at the Ciutat Sanitària i Universitària de Bellvitge, in Barcelona (Spain). Both groups of patients were diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria (APA, 1994)f or pathological gambling and for substance abuse. The psychological questionnaires administered used two different scales: SCL-90-R and Zuckeman's Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS). Significant differences between both groups were found on the subscale of hostility on the SCL-90-R (p<.02) and on the subscale of experience seeking on the SSS (p<.03). Significant differences emerged on all the SCL-90-R subscales between substance-abusing and non-substance abusing pathological gamblers. No significant differences were detected between groups in any of the socio-dernographical variables assessed.