Gambling disorder and comorbid behavioral addictions: Demographic, clinical, and personality correlates

Abstract

Gambling disorder (GD) frequently co-occurs with substance use disorders. However, the extent to which GD co-occurs with behavioral addictions (BAs) and the demographic, clinical, and personality correlates of comorbid GD and BA is largely unknown. The aims of the present research were to address this gap among people seeking treatment for GD (N = 458) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Structured clinical interviews diagnosed individuals with GD and other psychiatric disorders. The Shorter PROMIS questionnaire was used to identify BAs (work, exercise, food bingeing, sex, and shopping). Questionnaires assessed demographic characteristics, gambling behavior, and personality. Of the total sample, 206 (45.0%) participants met the criteria of having at least one behavioral addiction (GD+BA). The most common comorbid BA was food bingeing (8.1%) with the least common being exercise (3.6%). In a multivariate logistic regression, individuals with GD + BA tended to be younger, and had greater rates of comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder and bulimia nervosa compared to participants who did not present with a comorbid BA. Taken together, individuals with GD + BA present with increased psychopathology. These results may have important implications for the assessment and treatment of individuals with GD and comorbid BAs.