Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental health disorder in children. There are three subtypes of ADHD. A child may be diagnosed with the hyperactive-impulsive subtype. The main symptoms are being hyperactive and impulsive. The inattentive subtype has poor attention and difficulties concentrating on task. The combined subtype has symptoms of being hyperactive, impulsive and inattentive. While ADHD occurs mainly in childhood, some adults continue to have ADHD symptoms.
Research has found that youth with ADHD are more likely to take risks and engage in gambling than youth without ADHD. Adolescent gambling can lead to serious consequences, including poor school performance and debt. The pathways model of problem gambling proposes that impulsive traits contribute to the development of gambling problems, along with other social, emotional and biological factors. This review article summarized the results of 10 research studies published between 2006 and 2013. It aimed to examine the biological, psychological and social factors that increased the risk of pathological gambling in individuals with ADHD.
