Gambling Dreams in Pathological Gambler Outpatients: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Drug dreams, i.e., dreams in which drug-addicted patients use or attempt to use drugs, are a well-documented clinical phenomenon in drug addiction. These dreams offer a useful way to understand the vicissitudesof drug craving in patients who are drug addicts as well as their ability to cope with it. Authors considerdrug dreams as a valuable clinical tool in the treatment of drug addiction. Although pathological gamblingdisorder is a form of behavioral addiction that has several aspects in common with substance addiction,gambling dreams (i.e., dreams about gambling) are seldom described in scientific literature. This study aimedto provide the first systematic investigation on the presence of “gambling dreams” among abstinent pathological gamblers. A total of 10 individuals who arrived consecutively for outpatient treatment at the Centrefor Drug Addiction were evaluated on the basis of South Oaks Gambling Scale. They also completed aquestionnaire on gambling dreams. The results showed that most pathological gamblers report gamblingdreams. These dreams can be considered in terms of frequency, content, and relationship with craving in thesame way as drug dreams for drug addiction. Further studies might also shed light on the clinical utility ofgambling dreams for treatment of pathological gamblers.