Effect of genes, environment, and lifetime co-occurring disorders on health-related quality of life in problem and pathological gamblers

Scherrer, J.F., Hong, X., Shah, K.R., Volberg, R., Slutske, W. and Eisen, S.A. (2005) Effect of genes, environment, and lifetime co-occurring disorders on health-related quality of life in problem and pathological gamblers. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), pp. 677-683.

Abstract

Background Problem and pathological gambling are associated with many impairments in quality of life, including financial, family, legal, and social problems. Gambling disorders commonly co-occur with other psychiatric disorders, such as alcoholism and depression. Although these consequences and correlates have been reported, little is known about the health-related functional impairment associated with gambling. Objective To model differences in the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among non-problem gamblers, problem gamblers, and pathological gamblers after controlling for lifetime co-occurring substance use disorders, psychiatric disorders, sociodemographics, and genetic and family environmental influences. Design Cohort and co-twin studies. Setting Nationally distributed community sample. Patients Male twin members of the Vietnam Era Twin Registry: 53 pathological gamblers, 270 subclinical problem gamblers, and 1346 non-problem gamblers (controls). Interventions We obtained HRQoL data, via the 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey, from all participants. Data from a subset of twin pairs discordant for gambling behavior was used to control for genetic and family environmental effects on HRQoL and problem gambling. Main Outcome Measure Health-related quality of life. Results Results from adjusted logistic regression analyses suggest little difference across groups in the physical domains of the health survey; however, for each mental health domain, pathological gamblers had lower HRQoL scores than problem gamblers (P<.05), who in turn had lower scores than non-problem gamblers (P<.05). After controlling for genes and family environment, no significant differences existed between the non-problem gambling twins and their problem or pathological gambling brothers, but adjusted co-twin analyses resulted in statistically significant differences in 4 of 8 subscales. Conclusions Pathological and problem gambling are associated with significant decrements in HRQoL. This association is partly explained by genetic and family environmental effects and by lifetime co-occurring substance use disorders. Implications for clinicians, health care utilization, and public health issues are discussed.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Behavior, Gamblers, Gambling, Medical Care, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Psychiatry, Psychology, Psychology, Pathological, Public Health, Quality of Life, Research
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Volberg, Dr Rachel
• Authors: Scherrer, J.F., Hong, X., Shah, K.R., Volberg, R., Slutske, W., and Eisen, S.A.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Journal Name: Archives of General Psychiatry
• ISSN: 0003-990X