Clinical Significance of Psychiatric Comorbidities Among Outpatients With Gambling Disorder in Japan: A 12‐Month Follow‐Up Study

TL;DR

This study found that psychiatric comorbidities in gambling disorder outpatients in Japan did not worsen outcomes, and ongoing treatment for these conditions may help improve recovery.

Contribution

The study reveals that treating comorbid psychiatric disorders may positively influence gambling disorder outcomes in outpatients.

Findings

Psychiatric comorbidity was not associated with worse gambling disorder outcomes.

Outpatients with comorbidities were more likely to remain in treatment at 12 months.

Abstinence rates from gambling decreased significantly by 12 months compared to earlier assessments.

Abstract

Gambling disorder (GD) is often comorbid with other psychiatric disorders. Previous studies have reported that psychiatric comorbidity increases both treatment dropout and relapse among patients with GD. However, little is known about the effects of comorbidity among outpatients with GD either during or after treatment. This study examined this issue in a clinical setting.

60 outpatients with GD (men/women, 58/2; average age, 37.9 years) participated in assessments of the course of multidimensional treatment outcomes (i.e., gambling‐related variables, social impairment, and depressive symptoms) at three time points (baseline, 3 months, and 12 months). We examined treatment outcomes in GD patients with and without comorbidity.

A total of 58.3% of the patients had comorbidities (major depressive disorder, 26.7%; behavioral addiction, 21.7%; anxiety disorder, 15.0%, etc.), while the dropout rates across the study period were 13.3% at 3 months and 35.0% at 12 months. Statistical analyses indicated that the South Oaks Gambling Screen score and the Sheehan Disability Scale score were significantly reduced at follow‐up compared to baseline in both comorbid and non‐comorbid outpatients. There was a significant difference for being still in treatment, where the proportion of individuals with comorbid disorders was significantly higher than those without comorbidities at the 12‐month compared to the 3‐month follow‐up. The proportion of all outpatients who remained abstinent from gambling at 12 months was significantly lower compared to baseline and at 3 months.

Being still in treatment for comorbid psychiatric problems may affect the course and outcome of GD treatment.

This study examined the prognosis of GD in outpatients based on comorbidity status in Japan. Surprisingly, psychiatric comorbidity was not linked to worse GD outcomes. Continued treatment for comorbidities may impact GD treatment outcomes and help prevent adverse effects.

Figures