Gambling Disorder: A Clinical Guide to Treatment

Gambling Disorder: A Clinical Guide to Treatment is a systematic, eloquent, and
exhaustive examination of the etiology, psychopathology, neurobiology, and
treatment of the disorder, which was reclassified for DSM-5. Building on its
2004 predecessor, Pathological Gambling, which was groundbreaking for its era,
the second edition has been thoroughly restructured and is designed to prepare
clinicians to diagnose, treat, and-most important of all-understand their
patients with the disorder. More common than previously supposed, gambling
disorder is associated with decreased self-esteem, comorbid substance use
disorders, financial and legal difficulties, relationship and family stress, and
suicidality. Yet, many clinicians are unaware of the personal and social
consequences of this disorder, as well as its implications for public health.
Accordingly, the book provides a detailed look at the effects of gambling on
societal, familial, and individual health and well-being and prepares clinicians
to accurately assess their patients and provide effective treatments. As befits
a field that has been the recent focus of so much innovative and promising
research, the new edition boasts a fresh roster of contributors, each of whom
bring special insight to their areas of expertise.

Noteworthy topics
include: Currently available screening and assessment instruments for
diagnosing gambling disorder and monitoring symptom change are discussed
in-depth, including psychometric properties, norms, administration methods, and
scoring and interpretation of each instrument. Online gambling and
gambling-gaming convergence is considered in a new chapter, which explores the
complex interplay between gambling and technology. Highlighted issues include
the growth of interactive platforms, role of new player experiences and reward
structures, tailoring of products to individuals, and integration into other
online activities, such as gaming and social media. Gender differences in
epidemiology, phenomenology, psychiatric comorbidity, and biology have been
identified among patients with gambling disorder, with important treatment
implications. Similarly, older adults and young people can exhibit significant
differences in behavior. These are explored in separate, clinically rich,
chapters. The always evolving field of gambling and criminal/legal issues is
explored in a chapter on forensic issues in gambling, which examines the
relationship of gambling disorder to antisocial personality disorder and
domestic abuse, and looks at the interface between gambling and the legal
system. Tremendous advances in the treatment of gambling disorder have been
made since the last edition, and these are reflected in comprehensive chapters
on psychosocial and pharmacological treatments.

Full of expert clinical
knowledge and cutting-edge research, Gambling Disorder: A Clinical Guide to
Treatment is the clinician's comprehensive guide to helping patients with
gambling disorder find relief from this disabling disorder.