Anxiety and Depression

Overview

Anxiety is a clinical disorder characterized by excessive uneasiness and apprehension. Individuals feel worried, concerned, and nervous about events happening in their lives. Anxiety is typically accompanied by compulsive behaviour or panic attacks. Depression is also a clinical disorder, characterized by feelings of extreme despondency and dejection. An individual who is suffering from depression may feel sad, hopeless, and unimportant. Eating habits, sleeping habits, thinking, and concentration may also change. Suicidal thoughts or tendencies are also common among individuals with depression.

Key Points

Anxiety and depression are commonly comorbid with gambling problems, and studies have found relationships between harmful gambling and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Part of this may be due to the financial strain, relationship strain, and work strain that results from harmful gambling. In addition, families and friends of gamblers may also experience mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression.

Search the Evidence Centre for Anxiety and Depression 

References

Becona, E., Lorenzo, M. D. C., & Fuentes, M. J. (1996). Pathological gambling and depression. Psychological reports, 78(2), 635-640.

Chicago

Dannon, P., Sason, M., Shalgi, B., Tusan, L., Sapir, Y., & Kotler, M. (2004). [Comorbid psychiatric symptoms in pathological gamblers: anxiety, depression and substance abuse]. Harefuah, 143(9), 643-6.

Martin, R. J., Usdan, S., Cremeens, J., & Vail-Smith, K. (2014). Disordered gambling and co-morbidity of psychiatric disorders among college students: An examination of problem drinking, anxiety and depression. Journal of Gambling Studies, 30(2), 321-333.

Jauregui, P., Estévez, A., & Urbiola, I. (2016). Pathological Gambling and Associated Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Emotion Regulation, and Anxious-Depressive Symptomatology. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 5(2), 251-260.