Family history is part of the clinical assessment for mental disorders. Yet, it is not clear how useful it is to ask about family history of gambling disorder. This study looked at the impact of having a family history of gambling disorder on clinical presentation and response to treatment. The researchers used data from 10 clinical trials in the USA. Participants in these trials were all seeking treatment for gambling disorder. They completed a psychiatric evaluation and were asked about first-degree relatives with gambling disorder.
The researchers found that women were more likely to report a family history of gambling disorder than men. Having a family history of gambling disorder was associated with an earlier age of first gambling, a longer duration of the disorder going untreated, and a higher chance of having legal problems due to gambling. People with a family history of gambling disorder were more likely to also have a family history of alcohol use disorders. Having a family history of gambling disorder could be linked with better treatment outcomes. People with a family history of gambling disorder showed greater improvement after receiving treatment compared to those with no family history.
