Pathological gambling
Pathological gambling is an impulse-control disorder characterized by persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior that disrupts personal, family, or vocational pursuits. Symptoms of pathological gambling include:
- The need to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve desired levels of excitement
- Repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling
- Restlessness or irritability when attempting to cut down or stop gambling
- The use of gambling as an escape from problems
- Attempts to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling
How Mindsite can help
Find out if you show symptoms of pathological gambling by taking our free online survey or reading the full DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with pathological gambling, get free information and advice from the Mindsite community by reading original articles or asking a question.

