Comparing the accuracy of brief gambling screening questionnaires at identifying problem gambling in mental health patients

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Author(s): Dowling, Nicki A. ; Merkouris, Stephanie ; Manning, Victoria ; Lubman, Dan I. ; Volberg, Rachel A. ; Lee, Stuart J. ; Rodda, Simone N.

Journal: Addiction

Year Published: 2018

Date Added: October 11, 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate how accurately nine brief screening questionnaires identify and classify gambling risk levels among mental health patients. The researchers also explored if the questionnaires’ accuracy differs depending on the type of mental health disorder. Participants were 837 patients being treated at one of eight mental health services in Victoria, Australia. They completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) and nine brief screening questionnaires. The five-item Brief Problem Gambling Screen (BPGS) was the only questionnaire that could identify patients at any level of gambling risk (low-risk, moderate-risk, and problem gambling). The NODS-CLiP or the three-item BPGS could be used by mental health services wanting a shorter questionnaire to screen for higher risk (moderate-risk and problem gambling). Services that are only able to accommodate a very brief instrument can employ the Lie/Bet Questionnaire or the two-item BPGS.

Citation: Dowling, N. A., Merkouris, S. S., Manning, V., Volberg, R., Lee, S. J., Rodda, S. N., & Lubman, D. I. (2018). Screening for problem gambling within mental health services: A comparison of the classification accuracy of brief instruments. Addiction, 113(6), 1088-1104. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.14150

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/add.14150

Keywords: clinical classification ; diagnostic criteria ; gambling ; mental health ; problem gambling ; psychiatric disorders ; screening ; services

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological - Comorbid Disorders ; Psychological Factors

Response Rate: 61.4% (837/1363)

Study Design: Evaluation Design

Geographic Coverage: Australia, Victoria

Study Population: Adults over the age of 18 who were being treated for a mental health disorder at one of eight adult and youth mental health service locations between June 2015 and January 2016.

Sampling Procedure: Ten trained researchers were in the waiting rooms of the mental health service sites and directly invited patients to participate in the study.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.