One study found persons with TBI were 2.8 time more likely to have a gambling problem than those without a TBI. These findings remained constant even after controlling for psychological distress and drinking behavior.
The link between brain injury and gambling addiction could be due to multiple factors:
- Dis-inhibition
- Impulsivity
- Obsessive behavior
- Memory loss
- Impaired reasoning
- Difficulty keeping track of the amount of money spent
- Difficulty making a reasonable decisions about whether or not to keep playing
- Difficulty understanding the damage it is causing their lives
- Social effects of a brain injury can impact problem gambling behavior:
- Relationships can become strained because friends and family don’t understand the difficulties and needs experienced by brain injury survivors
- Brain injury survivors feel misunderstood, and experience feelings of frustration, loneliness, and isolation
If you are concerned about a gambling problem, 211 is Maine’s Problem Gambling Helpline. Dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211.
Resources Consulted:
Disabilities and problem gambling
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/Problem-Gambling/Documents/Disabilities.pdf
Traumatic brain injury as an independent risk factor for problem gambling: a matched case-control study:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30232507/
Traumatic brain injuries and problem gambling in youth: Evidence from a population-based study of secondary students in Ontario, Canada:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33007032/
Moderate to severe gambling problems and traumatic brain injury: A population-based study:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30832188/
Risk of problem gambling increases after traumatic brain injury
History of brain injury may increase later risk of problem gambling
https://www.ices.on.ca/Publications/~/media/A296DB59841C436C94BB054047BB20AD.ashx
Dangers of gambling after a brain injury
https://www.boltburdonkemp.co.uk/our-insights/posts/dangers-of-gambling-after-a-brain-injury/
Responding to Acquired Brain Injury in Problem Gambling Treatment