Risks for gamblers with
Parkinson’s Disease
Newswise —
Parkinson’s disease sufferers could be
adversely affected by the growth of betting
on the web because they are more likely to
become gambling addicts, says a doctor
writing in today’s BMJ.
Parkinson’s disease is common. It is
estimated to affect one in 200 people in the
developed world. Dr Sui Wong says while the
motor symptoms and signs of Parkinson’s
disease are well recognised, the behavioural
disorders, such as problem gambling, are
less well known.
It is
estimated that 3.5% of people with
Parkinson’s disease are pathological
gamblers. That figure rises to 7.2% if they
are taking drugs known as dopamine agonists.
By comparison, in the general population
only 1% of people become pathological
gamblers.
Characterised by excessive betting,
pathological gambling is a chronic and
progressive mental disorder which can have
devastating effects. Dr Wong says her
patients are often secretive about their
gambling and may end up thousands of pounds
in debt before the problem is discovered.
The reason
for the greater incidence of pathological
gambling among users of dopamine agonists is
unclear, says Dr Wong, as the drugs should
lessen the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Many
sufferers take dopamine agonists in the
early stages of the disease. They work by
directly stimulating the receptors in nerves
in the brain which normally would be
stimulated by dopamine.
Dr Wong
goes on to warn about the effect easy
accessibility to instant gambling on the
internet could have on Parkinson’s
sufferers. Nearly 5.8 million people, or one
in ten online users, log onto internet
gambling sites each month. This figure is
expected to rise as more households connect
to the internet.
Dr Wong
says many internet gambling companies
actively lure gamblers with pop-ups to place
free-bets. This proactive marketing
technique is pervasive and she warns it can
make it hard for vulnerable individuals to
wean off gambling.
She says
“the current debate on regulating gambling
is relevant to this group of patients. This
provides an ideal opportunity to deal with
the problem through appropriate legislation
to protect a small, though highly
vulnerable, group in our society.”
Click here to view full editorial:
http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/april/edit2104.pdf
