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. 2011 Mar;45(3):404-11.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.07.010. Epub 2010 Aug 30.

Gambling problem severity and psychiatric disorders among Hispanic and white adults: findings from a nationally representative sample

Declan T Barry  1 , Elina A Stefanovics, Rani A Desai, Marc N Potenza
Affiliations

Gambling problem severity and psychiatric disorders among Hispanic and white adults: findings from a nationally representative sample

Declan T Barry et al. J Psychiatr Res. 2011 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: To examine differences in the associations of gambling problem severity and psychiatric disorders among a nationally representative sample of Hispanic and white adults.

Method: Chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed on data obtained from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions from 31,830 adult respondents (13% Hispanic; 87% white), who were categorized according to three levels of gambling problem severity (i.e., no gambling or low-frequency gambling [NG], low-risk or at-risk gambling [LRG], problem or pathological gambling [PPG]).

Results: Hispanic respondents in comparison to white respondents were more likely to exhibit PPG. Problem gambling severity was associated with past-year Axis I and lifetime Axis II psychiatric disorders in both Hispanic and white respondents, with the largest odds typically observed in association with the most severe gambling pathology. A stronger relationship between subsyndromal gambling and a broad range of Axis I disorders (mood, anxiety and substance use disorders) and Axis II disorders (particularly cluster B) was observed in Hispanic respondents as compared to white ones.

Conclusions: Levels of problem gambling severity are associated with the prevalence of Axis I and Axis II psychiatric disorders in both Hispanics and whites. Differences in the patterns of co-occurring disorders between subsyndromal levels of gambling in Hispanic and white respondents indicate the importance of considering ethnicity/race-related factors related to subthreshold levels of gambling in developing improved mental health prevention and treatment strategies.

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