Cusack J R, Malaney K R, DePry D L
Postgrad Med. 1993 Apr;93(5):169-76, 179. doi: 10.1080/00325481.1993.11701667.
In the United States, a small but growing portion of the adult population are pathological gamblers. The majority are men (about one third are women). Although the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third revised edition, defines pathological gambling as a disorder of impulse control, diagnostic criteria and treatment are modeled after psychoactive substance dependence. About half of pathological gamblers have a history of alcoholism or substance abuse, and accompanying mood disorders (eg, major depression, bipolar disorder) are common. Once diagnosed, pathological gambling is highly treatable.
在美国，成年人口中患病态赌博症的比例虽小，但呈上升趋势。大多数患者为男性（约三分之一为女性）。尽管《精神疾病诊断与统计手册》第三版修订本将病态赌博定义为一种冲动控制障碍，但其诊断标准和治疗方法却是参照精神活性物质依赖制定的。约一半的病态赌博患者有酗酒或药物滥用史，同时伴有情绪障碍（如重度抑郁症、双相情感障碍）也很常见。一旦确诊，病态赌博症是极易治疗的。
