Transcript GAMBLING, DISABILITY AND CO

James Keefer MS LPC NCGC
604 Wilson Street
Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401
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Pathological Gambling
◦ 1 Preoccupied with gambling
◦ 2 Tolerance
◦ 3 Repeated unsuccessful attempts to
control, cut back or stop gambling
◦ 4 Restless or irritable when attempting
to cut down or stop gambling
◦ 5 Gambles as a way of escaping from
problems or relieving dysphoric mood
◦ 6 Chasing losses
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◦ 7 Lies to family members, therapists
about gambling
◦ 8 Has committed illegal acts such as
forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement
to finance gambling
◦ 9 Has jeopardized or lost a significant
relationship, job, or educational career
opportunity because of gambling
◦ 10 Relies on others to provide money
to relieve a desperate financial situation
caused by gambling
Shadow Syndromes
and Comorbidity
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There are over 300 different manifestations
of mental illness (Medical News Today, 2004).
Each disorder has a number of criteria that an
individual has to have to receive that
diagnosis.
The diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety
Disorder lists 6 criteria, but you need a
minimum of 3 symptoms for the diagnosis.
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SITUATION - An individual with a
Pathological Gambling Diagnosis, that also
has 3 or more of the criteria for GAD, could
have a dual diagnosis, also known as (aka)
comorbid diagnosis.
• If they have less than 3 symptoms it might
represent a shadow syndrome (Boudreadu &
Shaffer, 2009).
[see next page for visual example].
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Symptoms GAD:
Restlessness
Easily fatigued
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Muscle tension
Sleep disturbances
(American Psychiatric Association, 2003)
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What would happen if…?
+GA +
+
+
-Bipolar
-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
-Dissociative Disorder
Caution – We are still under
construction – where do we go from here?
Indecision may or may not be my problem.
(Jimmy Buffett, nd.)
Diagnoses are important and helpful in
Understanding the range of behavioral
influences.
However, they are somewhat artificial and
sometimes we just don’t know what is
going on! We sometimes fly by the seat
of our pants.
 Tell
me why I gamble and then
I will stop.
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Theories of Addiction
Frequently similar to theories of drug and alcohol theories
Brain Reward Dopaminergic System
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Brainy Quote. (2012) Indecision quotes.
Retrieved from:
http://www.brainyquote.com
Medical News Today. (2004). How many
mental disorders are there? Retrieved
from: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com