According to DSM-III criteria, pathological gambling is now recognised as a mental illness. Epidemiological data suggest that the incidence of this disorder in the general population varies from 0.5% to 1%. However, until recently, psychiatrists and clinical psychologists have tended to neglect the problem because of a lack of understanding of its aetiology and management. This paper describes pathological gambling and presents an overview of current psychiatric treatments. It concludes that behavioural interventions are the most effective treatments for compulsive gamblers.
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