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Introduction
Pathological gambling is a disorder that affects at least two and a half million Americans and their families. Characterized as an impulse control disorder, pathological gambling is also considered to be compulsive. Essential symptoms of pathological gambling include constantly recurring compulsive behavior that is maladaptive, in that personal, family and/or vocational endeavors are disrupted. ... Family factors have been observed in clinical studies of pathological gamblers and twin studies have demonstrated that genetic influence contributes to the development of pathological gambling. According to the journal of Clinical Psychiatry, “serotonergic, noradrenergic, and dopaminergic dysfunction have been reported as biological factors contributing to the pathophysiology of pathological gambling” (Ibanez, A. ...
Molecular genetic techniques have been used to investigate the role of genetic factors in pathological gambling. Based on that classification, several lines of research have been undertaken to identify factors associated with the pathophysiology of pathological gambling. Consequently, genetic epidemiology and molecular genetic techniques have been used to investigate genetic factors contributing to pathological gambling. From the research conducted thus far, doctors were able to find that genders can be compared and genetics play a factor in pathological gambling. Although preliminarily data suggest that some of these differences are gender specific, more research needs to be performed to substantiate gender specifics of genetic contributions to the development of pathological gambling.
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Due to the effects of pathological gambling on so many Americans, this area of communication research is very important. ... Stated in the Neurobiology and Genetics of Pathological Gambling journal, “as a psychiatric disorder, pathological gambling is difficult to identify and diagnose, and is frequently overlooked in clinical studies” (Potenza, M. ... Symptoms and behaviors specifically related to pathological gambling, which may have important implications for treatment, are often denied or hidden by the gambler. Consequently, pathological gambling may be overlooked and under diagnosed. Pathological gambling is growing in number of cases each month, and more research needs to be conducted. ... Pathological gambling needs to be treated like cancer or any other disease and quality research is essential.
Review of the literature
Epidemiological genetic studies
Initial evidence for the genetic influence on the etiology of pathological gambling came
from family studies. Studies with clinical samples of pathological gamblers suggest an incidence of about 20% of pathological gambling in first-degree relatives, and led to the consideration of
the possible role of genetic component in the development of pathological gambling. ... Using standpoint theory as a lens for the research from the journal of Familial Influences on Gambling Behavior, “patients at a Veterans Administration
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hospital in Boston who perceived that their parents had gambling problems were three times more likely to score as probable pathological gamblers than those who did not perceive that their parents had gambling problems” (Eisen, S.
Approximate Word count = 2125
Approximate Pages = 8.5
(250 words per page double spaced)
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