Pathological Gambling in Clinical Psychiatric Practice: A Case Series from a Tertiary Care Setting

Abstract

Gambling disorder is characterized by persistent and recurrent maladaptive patterns of gambling behavior leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.[1] Once classified as an impulse-control disorder, it is now recognized as a behavioral addiction due to shared neurobiological and phenomenological features with substance use disorders.[2]
Global epidemiological studies estimate the prevalence of gambling disorder to range between 0.1 and 5% in the general population, although rates vary depending on cultural context and accessibility of gambling opportunities.[3] In recent years, technological advancements and the proliferation of online gambling platforms have substantially altered the landscape of gambling behaviors, enabling continuous and easily accessible participation.[4]