<p>For many individuals gambling gives an opportunity for relaxation and social relations. The positive effects of gambling are for most individual’s considerable more than the negative effects. Even if gambling gives positive effects there is individuals that cannot control there gambling and therefore develop an addiction which disturb there life situation and health. The aim of this study was to describe which personal characteristics distinguish people with a pathological gambling and which psychological, physical and social consequences this pathological gambling causes for the individual. The method of the study was a literary study and was based on twenty scientific articles. These articles were found in different scientific databases. The result of the study indicated that pathological gamblers have a higher grade of impulsivity and therefore they are seeking for quick satisfaction. The characteristic of pathological gamblers causes psychological, physiological and social consequences. Pathological gamblers have a increased risk of economical problems, work loses, anxiety, fear and depression. The consequences of pathological gambling does not only affect the individual with the addiction but also people in the person’s environment; therefore it is important that the society receive increased knowledge about pathological gambling. Further research about which individual’s that have an increased risk of become pathological gamblers, research about the increased accessibility to gamble and the mass medium effect on the individual is a desire.</p>

For many individuals gambling gives an opportunity for relaxation and social relations. The positive effects of gambling are for most individual’s considerable more than the negative effects. Even if gambling gives positive effects there is individuals that cannot control there gambling and therefore develop an addiction which disturb there life situation and health. The aim of this study was to describe which personal characteristics distinguish people with a pathological gambling and which psychological, physical and social consequences this pathological gambling causes for the individual. The method of the study was a literary study and was based on twenty scientific articles. These articles were found in different scientific databases. The result of the study indicated that pathological gamblers have a higher grade of impulsivity and therefore they are seeking for quick satisfaction. The characteristic of pathological gamblers causes psychological, physiological and social consequences. Pathological gamblers have a increased risk of economical problems, work loses, anxiety, fear and depression. The consequences of pathological gambling does not only affect the individual with the addiction but also people in the person’s environment; therefore it is important that the society receive increased knowledge about pathological gambling. Further research about which individual’s that have an increased risk of become pathological gamblers, research about the increased accessibility to gamble and the mass medium effect on the individual is a desire.

Background: Cognitive perspectives suggest that gambling-related cognitive (GRC) biases contribute to the development and maintenance of gambling problems. Evidence has since accumulated to support these claims: GRCs tend to be stronger amongst problems (and pathological) gamblers, and can be effective therapeutic targets of talking treatments. However a richer account of how GRCs are conditioned by gamblers' game and group interactions might enhance their explanatory power and therapeutic value. Methods: Here, I present the results of an extended programme of research involving: (i) laboratory-based experiments on action-based expressions of illusions of control (IOC; Studies 1-4) and value learning when making decisions under uncertainty (Study 5); (ii) online surveys of Chinese gamblers' participation patterns and beliefs in luck (Study 6); and finally, (iii) qualitative interviews of treatment-seeking professional footballers in the United Kingdom (Study 7). Results: Studies 1-2 demonstrated that (non-problematic) gamblers displayed IOC biases by rolling a simulated die for longer when attempting to hit targets with larger prizes and numerical values. These action-based expressions of IOC were facilitated by congruent target numbers and prizes (Study 3), and heightened competition with gambling co-actors (Study 4). Additionally, computational models of gamblers' choices in Study 5 showed that self-report GRCs, and impulsivity, weaken gamblers' ability to learn the value of competing game options. Next, Study 6 reported that Chinese gamblers' GRCs were related to a broader range of gambling activities, and self-report IOCs mediated the association between beliefs in luck and the number of reported gambling problems. Finally, Study 7 found that social pressures, high income, and work-related frustrations precipitated problematic gambling involvement in treatment-seeking footballers. Discussion: Overall, the results suggest that a richer account of GRCs can be achieved by considering the sensorimotor and sociocultural contexts of gamblers. My thesis concludes with a discussion of GRCs within more recent theoretical developments of the embodied and social cognitions paradigms.

AIMS: The aim of this thesis was to find out how pathological gamblers deal with stress situations and which particular coping strategies they use. The assumption based on previous research is that pathological gamblers tend to overuse negative coping strategies instead of positive strategies. METHODS: The research took place within ambulance treatment in the Clinic of Addictology of the General University Hospital in Prague and was realized with group of seven participants. The results were obtained using quantitative and qualitative research methods and the main tools were SOGS, SOC, SVF78 and anamnestic questionnaire which helped to identify the demographic data. RESULTS: The obtained outcomes correspond to previous studies and suggest that participants tend to overuse negative coping strategies such as self-blaming, resignation and perseverance in stressful situations. At the same time, their confidence towards the world is reduced, which means that they perceive the world as messy and incomprehensible. CONCLUSION: The research could be used to engage in professional practice in terms of training appropriate coping strategies that pathological gamblers could apply in stressful situations. In order to verify the outcomes, it would be necessary to carry out a complementary study to include...

<p>Studien var en kvantitativ undersökning som genomfördes vid Socialhögskolan i Stockholm. Syftet med denna C-uppsats var att öka kunskapen om socionomstuderandes kunskaper och attityder till spel och spelberoende. Forskningsfrågorna var: ”Vilka kunskaper och attityder kan socionomstuderande ha till spel och spelberoende?”, ”Finns det bland socionomstuderande några skillnader i attityder till spelberoende jämfört med attityder till alkoholberoende?” samt ”Finns det några skillnader, i kunskaper och attityder till spel och spelberoende, beroende på hur långt man har kommit i socionomutbildningen?. För att besvara forskningsfrågorna gjordes en enkätundersökning i två klasser ur termin 1 och två klasser ur termin 5. Resultatet av undersökningen visade att studenterna hade en viss kunskap på området samt att det fanns skillnader i attityder beroende på hur långt studenterna kommit i sin utbildning. Resultatet visade också att det fanns attitydskillnader i jämförelse mellan spel och alkoholberoende. Materialet analyserades med utgångspunkt från våra forskningsfrågor utifrån kognitiv teori och det socialkonstruktivistiska perspektivet.</p>

Studien var en kvantitativ undersökning som genomfördes vid Socialhögskolan i Stockholm. Syftet med denna C-uppsats var att öka kunskapen om socionomstuderandes kunskaper och attityder till spel och spelberoende. Forskningsfrågorna var: ”Vilka kunskaper och attityder kan socionomstuderande ha till spel och spelberoende?”, ”Finns det bland socionomstuderande några skillnader i attityder till spelberoende jämfört med attityder till alkoholberoende?” samt ”Finns det några skillnader, i kunskaper och attityder till spel och spelberoende, beroende på hur långt man har kommit i socionomutbildningen?. För att besvara forskningsfrågorna gjordes en enkätundersökning i två klasser ur termin 1 och två klasser ur termin 5. Resultatet av undersökningen visade att studenterna hade en viss kunskap på området samt att det fanns skillnader i attityder beroende på hur långt studenterna kommit i sin utbildning. Resultatet visade också att det fanns attitydskillnader i jämförelse mellan spel och alkoholberoende. Materialet analyserades med utgångspunkt från våra forskningsfrågor utifrån kognitiv teori och det socialkonstruktivistiska perspektivet.

Pathological Gambling (PG) is an impulse control disorder with lifetime prevalence of 1-3%. Available treatments are limited by uncertain classification and complexity of implicated neurotransmitter systems. Dopamine (DA), a key neurotransmitter implicated in addictive behavior and reward is elevated in response to gambling and psychostimulants. Based on previous research, it was hypothesized that the D2 blocker, haloperidol (HAL), will enhance slot machine reinforcement in PG but not in Healthy Controls (HC). If this increase reflects preferential stimulation of D1 receptors and group differences in D1 sensitivity, D1-D2 blocker (fluphenazine, FLU) should offset increase in reinforcement seen with HAL in PG subjects. In line with DA's implicated role in 'wanting' vs. 'liking' of the addictive reinforcer, the results suggest that DA release mediated partial D1 activation under FLU led to clear differentiation between groups with increased 'wanting' seen in controls but not in gamblers. DA's role in 'liking' however remains elusive.

Pathological Gambling (PG) is an impulse control disorder with lifetime prevalence of 1-3%. Available treatments are limited by uncertain classification and complexity of implicated neurotransmitter systems. Dopamine (DA), a key neurotransmitter implicated in addictive behavior and reward is elevated in response to gambling and psychostimulants. Based on previous research, it was hypothesized that the D2 blocker, haloperidol (HAL), will enhance slot machine reinforcement in PG but not in Healthy Controls (HC). If this increase reflects preferential stimulation of D1 receptors and group differences in D1 sensitivity, D1-D2 blocker (fluphenazine, FLU) should offset increase in reinforcement seen with HAL in PG subjects. In line with DA's implicated role in 'wanting' vs. 'liking' of the addictive reinforcer, the results suggest that DA release mediated partial D1 activation under FLU led to clear differentiation between groups with increased 'wanting' seen in controls but not in gamblers. DA's role in 'liking' however remains elusive.

Orientador: Afonso Antonio Machado / Banca: Silvia Deutsch / Banca: Daniel Presoto / Resumo: Jogo Patológico é um transtorno psiquiátrico classificado entre os transtornos do controle do impulso, contudo sua caracterização o aproxima das dependências químicas, sendo tratado como uma dependência comportamental. O jogador patológico apresenta envolvimento progressivo com jogos de azar, perda de controle sobre as apostas, evoluindo com sério comprometimento sócio-familiar e comorbidades psiquiátricas. Como nas dependências, a Avidez ou Fissura é importante fator nas recaídas e dificulta a recuperação. A atividade física já se mostrou eficiente na promoção de saúde e também se mostra importante na melhora de sintomas de depressão e ansiedade. Estudos anteriores mostraram que a fissura pelo jogo é inversamente relacionada à expressão de afetos positivos. O exercício físico, por outro lado, tem sido relacionado ao aumento na expressão de afetos positivos. Neste trabalho, foram acompanhados oito indivíduos jogadores patológicos em tratamento ambulatorial padrão para os quais foi oferecido um programa de atividade física por trinta minutos, duas vezes por semana, durante três semanas. Os afetos positivos, afetos negativos e fissura por jogo foram avaliados antes e depois da atividade física. A atividade física foi significativa na redução da avidez e na melhora dos afetos negativos, aparecendo como uma promissora alternativa a ser somada às modalidades já existentes para o tratamento do Jogo Patológico / Abstract: Pathological Gambling is a psychiatric disorder classified as an impulse control disorder; however its description brings it closer to addictions, being referred as a behavioral addiction. The pathological gambler presents a progressive involvement with gambling, loss of control over betting, advancing to severe social and family compromise and psychiatric comorbidities. Similar to addictions, urges or cravings are an important factor in relapses, hampering recovery. Physical activity has shown effectiveness in promoting health and improvement from depression and anxiety. Previous studies have shown that gambling craving is inversely related to the expression of positive affects. Conversely, physical exercise has been related to increase on the expression of positive affects. In this work, eight pathological gamblers under regular outpatient treatment were invited for a physical activity program for thirty minutes, twice a week, for three weeks. Positive and negative affectivity and gambling craving were assessed prior to and after physical exercise. Physical activity significantly reduced craving and improved negative affectivity, seeming a promising alternative to be added two previous modalities of treatment for Pathological Gambling / Mestre

Cirka 2 % av Sveriges befolkning beräknas ha ett spelberoende om pengar. Trots ökad medvetenhet om risken att utveckla spelberoende fortsätter spelandet med stora summor. Syftet med delstudie 1 var att undersöka upplevelser och erfarenheter av pengaspel. I en enkät berättade 29 högskolestudenter om erfarenheter av pengaspel. En tematisk innehållsanalys resulterade i tre teman: positiva upplevelser (vinst, nöje), negativa upplevelser (förlust, spelberoende, sociala problem, spelskulder, ointressant) och neutral upplevelse (kontroll). Syftet med Delstudie 2 och 3 var att undersöka spelberoendets effekt på livssituationen utifrån två olika perspektiv. Två män med tidigare spelberoende respektive två kvinnliga samtalsterapeuter intervjuades om sina upplevelser av spelberoendets effekt på livssituationen. En tematisk innehållsanalys resulterade i 13 respektive nio teman som besvarade tre frågeställningar inom vardera delstudie. Spelberoendeupplevelserna i Delstudie 2 innehöll: orealistiska målsättningar, tankefällor, återfall och ökad självinsikt. Spelberoendeupplevelserna i Delstudie 3 innehöll: skeva uppfattningar, storvinster, depression och skulder. Sammantaget var deltagarna negativa till pengaspel.