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Estimated verbal IQ and the odds of problem gambling: a population-based study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2013

D. Rai ,
W. Hall ,
P. Bebbington ,
P. Skapinakis ,
A. Hassiotis ,
S. Weich ,
H. Meltzer ,
P. Moran ,
T. Brugha  and
A. Strydom
...Show all authors
D. Rai*
Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Mental Health Trust, UK
W. Hall
Affiliation:
UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Queensland, Australia National Addiction Centre, King's College London, UK
P. Bebbington
Affiliation:
UCL Mental Health Sciences Unit, London, UK
P. Skapinakis
Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
A. Hassiotis
Affiliation:
UCL Mental Health Sciences Unit, London, UK
S. Weich
Affiliation:
Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
H. Meltzer
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, UK
P. Moran
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
T. Brugha
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, UK
A. Strydom
Affiliation:
UCL Mental Health Sciences Unit, London, UK
M. Farrell
Affiliation:
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia
*
* Address for correspondence: Dr D. Rai, Centre for Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

The neurocognitive deficits and other correlates of problem gambling are also observable in individuals with lower cognitive abilities, suggesting that a low IQ may be a determinant of problem gambling. There has been very little research into this possibility. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics associated with problem gambling in a large population-based study in England, with a particular focus on IQ.

Method

The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) 2007 comprised detailed interviews with 7403 individuals living in private households in England. Problem gambling was ascertained using a questionnaire based on DSM-IV criteria. Verbal IQ was estimated using the National Adult Reading Test (NART). Confounders included socio-economic and demographic factors, common mental disorders, impulsivity, smoking, and hazardous drug and alcohol use.

Results

More than two-thirds of the population reported engaging in some form of gambling in the previous year, but problem gambling was rare [prevalence 0.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5–1.0]. The odds of problem gambling doubled with each standard deviation drop in estimated verbal IQ [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.4, p = 0.003], after adjusting for other characteristics associated with problem gambling including age, sex, socio-economic factors, drug and alcohol dependence, smoking, impulsivity and common mental disorders. There was no strong relationship observed between IQ and non-problem gambling.

Conclusions

People with lower IQs may be at a higher risk of problem gambling. Further work is required to replicate and study the mechanisms behind these findings, and may aid the understanding of problem gambling and inform preventative measures and interventions.

Keywords

Addictionepidemiologygamblingimpulse control disordersintelligenceIQ
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 44 , Issue 8 , June 2014 , pp. 1739 - 1749
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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