PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Alex Blaszczynski

Publications and source records attributed to Alex Blaszczynski.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Characteristics and gender differences among self-excluded casino problem gamblers: Missouri data.

The present study explores gender-related differences in the demographic and gambling-related characteristics of 2670 problem gamblers participating in a state-administered (Missouri) casino self-exclusion program between 2001 and 2003. Female (n=1298, 48.4%) and male (n=1372, 51.1%) participants ranged in age from 21 to 84 years. Gender-related differences were noted among demographic variables, patterns of gambling behavior, reasons for self-exclusion, and involvement in self-help, counseling, and bankruptcy services. Female self-excluders were more likely than males to be older at time of application, African American, and either retired, unemployed or otherwise outside the traditional workforce. In addition, female self-excluders were more likely to report a later age of gambling onset, a shorter period between onset and self-exclusion, a preference for non-strategic forms of gambling and prior bankruptcy. The main predictors for female participation in self-exclusion included a desire to gain control and prevent suicide and referral by a counselor. The desire to save the marriage was a motivating factor for all participants. Findings suggest that the most efficacious treatment strategies with this group will include family systemic therapy and financial management in addition to pharmaco-treatment and culturally-sensitive individual therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Personality and self-reported use of mobile phones for games.

Mobile phones are popular devices that may generate problems for a section of the community. A previous study using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire found that extraverts with low self-esteem reported more problems with their mobile phone use. The present study used the NEO FI and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory to predict the self reported mobile phone use of 112 participants. Multiple regression found that people low on agreeableness were more likely to use their mobile phones to play games. The findings imply an interplay between personality traits and excessive or problematic use on mobile phones that is relevant to proposed innovations such as gambling on mobile phones.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

A framework for reporting outcomes in problem gambling treatment research: the Banff, Alberta Consensus.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is provide a framework concerning the minimum features of reporting efficacy of treatment in the problem gambling field. Research to date has not used uniform outcome measures and it is, therefore, difficult to compare the relative efficacy of various approaches. Some studies emphasize self-reported behavioural measures such as frequency and intensity of gambling whereas others emphasise change with respect to the criteria used to diagnose problem gambling or use composite measures of symptom severity in multiple domains involving gambling-related thoughts, urges, and behaviours. METHODS: An expert panel consensus. RESULTS: The proposed minimum features of reporting the efficacy of treatment outcome studies are: measures of gambling behaviour - the net expenditure each month, the frequency (in days per month) with which gambling takes place, and the time spent thinking about or engaged in the pursuit of gambling each month; measures of the problems caused by gambling - especially problems in the areas of personal health, relationships, financial, and legal; these measures can be complemented by additional measures of quality of life. measures of the processes of change - whatever mechanisms of change are assumed to occur. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that these guidelines are broad enough to allow clinical research conducted from diverse perspectives to allow valid cross study evaluations of intervention studies. Such conditions will facilitate the development of empirically validated best practice guidelines for use by clinicians in the management of problem gambling.

Behavior, Addictive↗
PubMed2005

Conceptual and methodological issues in treatment outcome research.

Few studies have evaluated the comparative efficacy, effectiveness and mode of action of specific treatment interventions, or developed evidence-based best-practice management guidelines for the treatment of problem gambling. While individual and multi-modal programmes demonstrate positive results, systematic well-designed randomised controlled studies incorporating follow-up blind assessments and standardised diagnostic and outcome measures are needed to establish long-term outcomes.

Behavior, Addictive↗
PubMed2005

Structural changes to electronic gaming machines as effective harm minimization strategies for non-problem and problem gamblers.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of three proposed modifications to the structural characteristics of electronic gaming machines as harm minimisation strategies for non-problem and probable problem gamblers. Structural changes included reducing the maximum bet size, reducing reel spin and removing large note acceptors. Behavioural patterns of play were observed in 779 participants attending clubs and hotels. Observations were conducted in the gaming venue during regular gaming sessions. Eight experimental machines were designed to represent every combination of the modifications. 210 participants played at least one modified and one unmodified machine. Following play, the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) was administered. More problem than non-problem gamblers used high denomination bill acceptors and bet over one-dollar per wager. Machines modified to accept the one-dollar maximum bet were played for less time and were associated with smaller losses, fewer individual wagers and lower levels of alcohol consumption and smoking. It was concluded that the reduction of maximum bet levels was the only modification likely to be effective as a harm minimization strategy for problem gamblers.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Superstitious beliefs in gambling among problem and non-problem gamblers: preliminary data.

Superstitious beliefs, defined as a strong conviction based on the erroneous perception of a cause-effect association between two independent events, are considered to play an instrumental role in the maintenance of gambling behaviour. In this preliminary study, responses to eight items assessing superstitious beliefs were compared among 56 electronic gaming machine (EGM) problem gamblers, 22 non-problem EGM and 23 non-EGM non-problem gamblers. Results suggested that problem gamblers endorsed more superstitious beliefs than non-problem gamblers and that such beliefs were correlated with gambling intensity. Further research is required to determine if superstitious beliefs represent a vulnerability factor for the development of problem gambling or emerge as a consequence of involvement in gambling.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2004

A science-based framework for responsible gambling: the Reno model.

As social observers increasingly identify gambling-related problems as a public health issue, key stakeholders need to join together to reduce both the incidence and prevalence of gambling-related harm in the community. This position paper describes a strategic framework that sets out principles to guide industry operators, health service and other welfare providers, interested community groups, consumers and governments and their related agencies in the adoption and implementation of responsible gambling and harm minimization initiatives.

Australia↗
PubMed2003

Capacity of screening questionnaires to predict psychiatric morbidity 18 months after motor vehicle accidents.

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes of trauma-related psychiatric morbidity. Previous studies have suggested that symptom screening instruments may be useful in predicting risk of longer-term psychiatric morbidity, but results have varied. The present study is based on 83 of an eligible 102 consecutive hospital-admitted survivors of road trauma who completed a structured clinical interview at baseline and 18-month follow-up. A subsample returned symptom questionnaires within 2 weeks of the accident, with between 60 and 66 completing the questionnaire. Receiver Operator Characteristic curve analyses were applied to obtain optimal predictive scores on each screening measure. Combining the derived cutoff scores on the Impact of Event Scale (measuring posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms) and the Beck Depression Inventory yielded an odds ratio of 82.9 in predicting any psychiatric morbidity at 18 months, with a specificity of 95%, and high positive (89%) and negative (91%) predictive indices. If these exploratory findings are confirmed by future studies, the case will be strengthened for routine screening of motor vehicle accident survivors to allow ongoing monitoring and selective early interventions for the high-risk subgroup. Compliance with completing and returning questionnaires remains a major challenge in this population, however, as indicated by the level of attrition in our study.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2003

Which pathological gamblers will complete treatment?

OBJECTIVE: The study examined the characteristics of pathological gamblers who complete treatment, compared with those who terminate treatment prematurely. DESIGN: Two comparison groups comprising treatment completers and drop-outs. METHODS: In all, 112 pathological gamblers who undertook a cognitive treatment programme for gambling were compared on different variables. RESULTS: A high score on impulsivity at intake significantly differentiated those participants who dropped out from treatment completers. There were no differences on socio-demographic and gambling-related characteristics, depression, anxiety, problem-solving skills and alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: These data implicate impulsivity as a significant factor in treatment drop-outs.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Pathological gambling and suicidality: an analysis of severity and lethality.

Pathological gambling represents a major public health issue. Risk factors for suicide such as major depression, substance abuse, marital breakdown, unemployment, financial crises, and legal difficulties are commonly found in populations of pathological gamblers. The objective of this study was to systematically investigate the nature of suicidal behavior among treatment-seeking pathological gamblers and its relationship to gambling characteristics and depression. Indices of suicidality were assessed in a sample of 85 treatment-seeking diagnosed pathological gamblers. High rates of suicidal ideation, suicidal plans, and attempts were found; however, no clear relationship was observed between suicidality and indices of gambling behavior. Depression rather than gambling specific characteristics, marital difficulties, or the presence of illegal behaviors appear to be related to the risk of suicidality.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Differences in cognitive distortions between problem and social gamblers.

The cognitive model of gambling argues that irrational beliefs and erroneous perceptions including illusions of control, superstitious beliefs, expectancies of winning, attributional biases, selective memory, and entrapment play a pivotal role in the development and maintenance of impaired control over patterns of gambling behaviours. Assessment strategies using self-report, behavioural inferences, and verbalizations produced by 'thinking aloud' techniques, and the effectiveness of treatment interventions designed to correct cognitive distortions have provided substantive empirical evidence supporting this model. However, research has yet to measure such differences between the quality, intensity, or conviction of specific dysfunctional beliefs held by problem in contrast to social gamblers. At the theoretical level, the absence of such demonstrable differences would undermine the validity of the cognitive explanatory model. Based on a review of the available literature, a preliminary measure to assess differences in irrational gambling beliefs was constructed and administered to a convenience sample of 56 problem gamblers and 52 social gamblers. In support of the cognitive model, analysis indicated that, compared to social gamblers, problem gamblers endorsed more irrational beliefs across all domains except for the variable of 'denial'. Implications for research issues relevant to the identification of irrational beliefs that may be subjected to challenge within a cognitive therapy paradigm are mentioned.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

A pathways model of problem and pathological gambling.

At the moment, there is no single conceptual theoretical model of gambling that adequately accounts for the multiple biological, psychological and ecological variables contributing to the development of pathological gambling. Advances in this area are hampered by imprecise definitions of pathological gambling, failure to distinguish between gambling problems and problem gamblers and a tendency to assume that pathological gamblers form one, homogeneous population with similar psychological principles applying equally to all members of the class. The purpose of this paper is to advance a pathways model that integrates the complex array of biological, personality, developmental, cognitive, learning theory and ecological determinants of problem and pathological gambling. It is proposed that three distinct subgroups of gamblers manifesting impaired control over their behaviour can be identified. These groups include (a) behaviourally conditioned problem gamblers, (b) emotionally vulnerable problem gamblers and (c) antisocial, impulsivist problem gamblers. The implications for clinical management are discussed.

Behavior, Addictive↗
PubMed2002

Pathological gambling and comorbid substance use.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the rates of substance use problems in a sample of diagnosed pathological gamblers seeking treatment in a university teaching hospital cognitive behavioural outpatient clinic. METHODS: A semistructured interview schedule and the composite international diagnostic interview (CIDI-auto) were administered to assess substance dependence in a sample of 75 poker-machine gamblers meeting DSM-IV and South Oaks gambling screen (SOGS) criteria for pathological gambling. Both the self-reported rates and the proportion meeting criteria for a psychiatric disorder were determined. RESULTS: The rates for substance use disorder within a sample of treatment-seeking pathological gamblers is higher as compared to general population figures. Gender differences were found with more current alcohol-abuse problems reported among male than female participants. Non-alcohol-related substance abuse was relatively lower than rates reported by other studies in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Substance abuse is a common comorbid condition of pathological gambling and therefore should be screened for in routine clinical assessments. Failure to identify and treat comorbid substance-use disorders in gamblers may lead to higher relapse rates.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

A Case Series of 44 Completed Gambling-Related Suicides.

This paper presents an analysis of 44 case records of suicide occurring between 1990 and 1997 in the State of Victoria, Australia, in which the State Coroner identified the presence of a putative gambling problem. Analysis of demographic data revealed that the majority of suicidal gamblers were male with a mean age of 40 years with 84% of the sample being either unemployed or from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The most common method of suicide was carbon monoxide poisoning. A quarter of the victims left a suicide note. Evidence was found indicating that almost a third (31.8%) of cases had previously attempted suicide and one in four had sought some form of mental health assistance for their gambling problem. A number of putative risk factors were identified including comorbid depression, large financial debts and relationship difficulties. The relationship between crime, suicide and gambling and gender differences among suicidal gamblers was also examined. The authors conclude that further research is required to substantiate these initial findings which are based on retrospective accounts and secondary sources of evidence.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Personality Disorders Among Pathological Gamblers.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of DSM-III-R diagnostic categories of personality disorders in pathological gamblers and to highlight the possible association between such disorders, psychological distress and selected forms of gambling. The Personality Disorders Questionnaire-Revised and a battery of psychometric measures were administered to a sample of 82 consecutive admissions to a behavioral treatment program for gambling problems at an impulse control disorders research unit in Sydney, Australia. Seventy-three percent of subjects were male. The total sample reported having gambled a mean of 15 years of which, on average, the last 6.4 years were associated with problems. Results indicated that the majority of subjects met diagnostic criteria for at least one Personality Disorder (93%), with an average of 4.6 personality disorders per subject. The majority of gamblers evidenced personality disorders from the Cluster B grouping with particularly high rates of borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders which were found to be associated with high levels of impulsivity and affective instability. Antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder were both found to be possible mediators of the severity of the problem gambling behaviours.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Can structured interviews for posttraumatic stress disorder assist clinical decision-making after motor vehicle accidents? An exploratory analysis.

Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) represent one of the most common causes of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) worldwide. Predicting those MVA survivors who are likely to experience PTSD in the longer-term has attracted substantial research attention, but most investigators have concluded that early traumatic stress symptoms have only moderate predictive power. The present study focuses on a decision-tree approach that might be useful to clinicians attempting to identify subgroups of MVA survivors with graduated degrees of risk. Eighty-three consecutive MVA admissions (response rate, 65%) were assessed by structured clinical interview within 2 weeks of the accident and at 18 months follow-up. Meeting full criteria for PTSD (other than the time criterion) at baseline achieved a positive predictive power of 0.92 in identifying those who had PTSD over the following 18 months. For the remainder, the PTSD "arousal" domain achieved a positive predictive power of 0.81 for predicting those with either subthreshold PTSD or full PTSD over the 18-month follow-up period. The implications for further research into a stepped approach to intervention and monitoring are discussed.

Accidents, Traffic↗