Zjawisko hazardu patologicznego i jego uwarunkowania
Pathological gambling and its determinants

Summary/Abstract: Gambling is now a popular lawful activity among people around the world. Due to recent changes of legal regulations concerning gambling, access to gambling has become more widespread and, as a result, an increase in the prevalence of pathological gambling has been noted. Therefore, an urgent need for better understanding of the phenomenon of pathological gambling among health-care specialists becomes evident. In this field, such concepts as compulsive, pathological or problem gambling are often treated synonymously. Pathological gambling is a complex phenomenon. Traditionally, the definitions of gambling have been constructed basing on the assumptions of economic or social repercussions rather than taking into account the process or phenomenon of gambling itself. However, clinicians focusing on negative consequences of the gambling behavior, developed typologies and worked out the definitions that may prove beneficial for more adequate operationalizing this concept. A critical review of the literature showed that familial /genetic, sociological /demographics (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity, forms of gambling), individual (e.g. an individual’s personality, biochemistry, cognitions, and psychological states) and religion/ spirituality factors may be implicated in the development and maintenance of pathological gambling.

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