GPs can play a crucial role in screening for Problem Gambling

Problem gambling: what do general practitioners need to know and do about it?

Source: Summary drawn from The Medical Journal of Australia 2008; 189 (3):135-136

Authors: S. A. Thomas, L. Piterman and A. C. Jackson

•Problem gambling is a significant mental health problem.

•The prevalence of problem gambling exceeds that of stroke and coronary heart disease, and is comparable with the estimated prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Australia.

•Further, problem gambling has been shown to be strongly comorbid with other health and mental health problems with high burdens of disease.

•It therefore warrants attention in primary care practice.

•The first step must be effective screening.

•We recommend screening patients with anxiety and depressive symptoms or high drug or alcohol use, because of the high rates of comorbidity of these conditions.

•Those who screen positive to the question “Have you or anyone in your family ever had an issue with gambling?” should be referred for further assessment and treatment by appropriately trained specialist practitioners in problem gambling.

•Family members may also require treatment for psychological problems because of the impact of their family member’s gambling.

•All Australian jurisdictions have networks of publicly funded practitioners who specialise in the treatment of problem gambling. [Re: Information supplied]

•GPs are well placed to detect and initiate treatment for this debilitating psychological problem.

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