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Suicidal behavior among members of Gamblers Anonymous

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Abstract

A national sample of 500 members of Gamblers Anonymous was surveyed by mail in order to gather information on suicidal history. One hundred sixty two usable surveys were returned representing 32.4% of the original sample. Compulsive gamblers who had a history of suicidal preoccupation began gambling at an earlier age than nonsuicidal gamblers and were more likely to have stolen to support their gambling. They also tended to have addicted relatives and children more than nonsuicidal gamblers did. The data suggest that those gamblers who had been suicidal tend to be more serious gamblers than nonsuicidal respondents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Stockton State College, 08240, Pomona, NJ

    Michael L. Frank Ph.D. & David Lester Ph.D.

  2. Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, USA

    Arnold Wexler CCGC

Authors
  1. Michael L. Frank Ph.D.
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  2. David Lester Ph.D.
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  3. Arnold Wexler CCGC
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Frank, M.L., Lester, D. & Wexler, A. Suicidal behavior among members of Gamblers Anonymous. J Gambling Stud 7, 249–254 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01019876

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01019876

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