Comorbidity and Holistic Harm Assessment

Summary

Gambling harm is multidimensional, impacting financial stability, physical health, relationships, and psychological well-being, with strong links to existing mental health comorbidities.

Knowledge Gaps

• Limited understanding of the causal directionality between specific mental health disorders and gambling onset
• Lack of integrated care models that treat gambling and mental health simultaneously

Concerns

Current clinical frameworks often treat gambling as an isolated addiction rather than a symptom of broader psychosocial distress.

Proposed Theories

• The 'Compensatory Coping' theory suggests that gambling is often used as a maladaptive self-medication strategy for underlying trauma or anxiety.

Sources