Ahead of Print

Abstract

Introduction: Gambling disorder, classified in the DSM-5 as a non-substance-related addictive disorder, is charac-terized by persistent and problematic gambling behavior that has a significant clinical impact. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between 0.1% and 6% of the global population may develop this disorder. We aimed to characterize the risk of gambling disorder among the adult population in Portugal.
Methods: A cross-sectional study, using a convenience sample of adults recruited via social media and health units, was conducted using an online questionnaire with sociodemographic data, substance use, health status, and the Portuguese version of the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS-PV).
Results: A total of 595 responses were included (mean age 39.2 years, 67.1% female). 10.9% (95% CI: 8.7–13.7) were at risk for gambling disorder. The most popular games are scratch cards (41.5%), lottery games (34.7%), and online games (22%). Contributing factors to gambling disorder included male gender (OR: 3.57; 95% CI: 1.99–6.52), tobacco use (OR: 2.60; 95% CI: 1.34–4.95) and having a mother (OR: 12.1; 95% CI: 0.534–138.2), friend (OR: 2.349; 95% CI: 0.948–5.423) or family member (OR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.165–6.481) with gambling di-sorder. Only 1.7% reported discussing this topic with their family physician.
Conclusion: The risk of gambling disorder among Portuguese adults is significant. The presence of identifiable risk factors underscores the importance of opportunistic screening and preventive approaches in primary care, enhancing early detection and intervention.