Severity of gambling problems and psychosocial functioning in older adults.

This study examined the relationship between severity of gambling problems and psychosocial functioning in older adults. Twenty-one current pathological gamblers and 10 current problem gamblers over 60 years of age completed the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS), and Social Provisions Scale (SPS). Compared with problem gamblers, pathological gamblers reported increased severity of gambling and family/social problems on the ASI; scored higher on the GDS, BSI, and UCLA-LS; and scored lower on the SPS. Although they were not seeking treatment at the time of the interview, three fourths of pathological gamblers and 30% of problem gamblers were interested in gambling treatment. These results suggest that severity of gambling problems is associated with increased psychosocial distress in older adults and that a significant proportion of older adults with a gambling disorder may be cognizant of their gambling problem and interested in treatment.