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The medical model of pathological gambling: Current shortcomings

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Abstract

Occasional, regular and pathological gambling are distributed in the population as a continuum. Failure to find categorical features of pathological gambling weakens the medical model for this condition, and the implications of this model concerning treatment, both in relation to the possibility of controlled gambling as an acceptable goal, and as to the effectiveness of social manipulations, such as restrictions of gambling outlets. Differences in gambling behavior patterns between pathological and nonpathological gamblers has not been consistently demonstrated and though some support exists for a relationship between “addiction” to gambling and alcohol, this could be accounted for by other factors than an addiction-prone personality. While findings support a relationship between personality variables and pathological gambling, the concept of a single personality type associated with the behavior seems unlikely. Nevertheless, evidence of physiological differences between pathological gamblers and controls has recently been reported and if established would provide strong support for a medical model, particularly one which allows for an interaction of physiological and sociological factors resulting in dimensional distribution of gambling behaviors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Prince of Wales Hospital, High and Avoca Street, 2031, Randwick, N.S.W., Australia

    Alex P. Blaszczynski (senior Clinical Psychologist)

  2. University of New South Wales, Kensington

    Neil McConaghy

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  1. Alex P. Blaszczynski
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  2. Neil McConaghy
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Blaszczynski, A.P., McConaghy, N. The medical model of pathological gambling: Current shortcomings. J Gambling Stud 5, 42–52 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01022136

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