Traumatic brain injury might predict future problem gambling

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Author(s): Bhatti, Junaid A. ; Thiruchelvam, Deva ; Redelmeier, Donald A.

Journal: Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology

Year Published: 2018

Date Added: January 09, 2019

This study examined if traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk of problem gambling. The results showed that people with gambling problems were more likely to have suffered a past TBI than recreational gamblers. The increased risk was most likely in men aged 35 to 64 years, who reported alcohol use or smoking. Having more than one past TBI doubled the risk of problem gambling. These findings suggest that problem gambling might be a long-term consequence of a past TBI.

Citation: Bhatti, J. A., Thiruchelvam, D., & Redelmeier, D. A. (2018). Traumatic brain injury as an independent risk factor for problem gambling: A matched case-control study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1583-1

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1583-1

Keywords: at-risk ; Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) ; comorbidities ; neurobiology ; problem gambling ; Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) ; traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)

Topics: Biological Factors ; Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) ; Comorbidities ; Gambling and the Brain ; Gambling Assessment

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological - Comorbid Disorders ; Psychological Factors ; Biological Factors ; Biological - Neurobiology

Response Rate: N/A

Study Design: Observational: Case Control

Geographic Coverage: Canada, Ontario

Study Population: Adults, aged 18 years or older, who self-reported their gambling activities in the Canadian Community Health Survey 2007-2008.

Sampling Procedure: The Canadian Community Health Survey uses three sampling frames to select households: 40.5% of the households are selected from an area frame, 58.5% are selected from a list frame of telephone numbers, and the remaining 1% are selected from a Random Digit Dialling (RDD) sampling frame. For this study, each adult with gambling problems was matched to two controls who were recreational gamblers. Matching was based on demographics, prior mental health history, and other risk factors (alcohol use, smoking, and suicide attempts. This resulted in 1019 cases with gambling problems matched to 2037 controls.