Pathological gambling: distinct features and forensic aspects

摘要

Causes and psychological characteristics of pathological gambling are reviewed. Neither the addiction model nor the conception of a "disorder of impulse control" is fitting to comprehend the peculiarity of these hardened conduct disorders. Pathological gambling is a learned pattern of behaviour with a variety of etiological backgrounds. There is no uniform type of "the" pathological gambler. Some kinds of gambling like roulette or horse betting are used to experience arousal and thrill; other forms like german slot machines on the contrary are used to relax and to find relief from depression and boredom. There is a broad spectrum of comorbid disorders, e.g. mood disorders and personality disorders. The paper delineates the overlap with antisocial patterns and the juridical consequences.