Gambling disorder in the UK: key research priorities and the urgent need for independent research funding

Henrietta Bowden-Jones; Roxanne W Hook; Jon E Grant; Konstantinos Ioannidis; Ornella Corazza; Naomi A Fineberg; Bryan F Singer; Amanda Roberts; Richard Bethlehem; Simon Dymond; Rafa Romero-Garcia; Trevor W Robbins; Samuele Cortese; Shane A Thomas; Barbara J Sahakian; Nicki A Dowling; Samuel R Chamberlain

doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00356-4

Gambling disorder in the UK: key research priorities and the urgent need for independent research funding

Lancet Psychiatry. 2022 Apr;9(4):321-329. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00356-4. Epub 2022 Feb 15.

Authors

Henrietta Bowden-Jones¹, Roxanne W Hook², Jon E Grant³, Konstantinos Ioannidis⁴, Ornella Corazza⁵, Naomi A Fineberg⁶, Bryan F Singer⁷, Amanda Roberts⁸, Richard Bethlehem², Simon Dymond⁹, Rafa Romero-Garcia¹⁰, Trevor W Robbins¹¹, Samuele Cortese¹², Shane A Thomas¹³, Barbara J Sahakian², Nicki A Dowling¹⁴, Samuel R Chamberlain¹⁵

Affiliations

¹ National Problem Gambling Clinic & National Centre for Gaming Disorders, London, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Faculty of Brain Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
² Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
³ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, IL, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Clinical, Pharmacological and Biological Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK; Hertforshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Welwyn Garden City, UK.
⁷ School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK; Sussex Addiction Research and Intervention Centre, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK; Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
⁸ School of Psychology, College of Social Science, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK.
⁹ Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK; Department of Psychology, Reykjavík University, Reykjavík, Iceland.
¹⁰ Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
¹¹ Department of Psychology and Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, UK.
¹² Centre for Innovation in Mental Health, School of Psychology, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Solent NHS Trust, Southampton, UK; Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York University Child Study Center, New York City, NY, USA; Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
¹³ School of Health, Federation University, Ballarat, VIC Australia.
¹⁴ School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia; Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
¹⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

Gambling in the modern era is pervasive owing to the variety of gambling opportunities available, including those that use technology (eg, online applications on smartphones). Although many people gamble recreationally without undue negative effects, a sizeable subset of individuals develop disordered gambling, which is associated with marked functional impairment including other mental health problems, relationship problems, bankruptcy, suicidality, and criminality. The National UK Research Network for Behavioural Addictions (NUK-BA) was established to promote understanding of, research into, and treatments for behavioural addictions including gambling disorder, which is the only formally recognised behavioural addiction. In this Health Policy paper, we outline the status of research and treatment for disordered gambling in the UK (including funding issues) and key research that should be conducted to establish the magnitude of the problem, vulnerability and resilience factors, the underlying neurobiology, long-term consequences, and treatment opportunities. In particular, we emphasise the need to: (1) conduct independent longitudinal research into the prevalence of disordered gambling (including gambling disorder and at-risk gambling), and gambling harms, including in vulnerable and minoritised groups; (2) select and refine the most suitable pragmatic measurement tools; (3) identify predictors (eg, vulnerability and resilience markers) of disordered gambling in people who gamble recreationally, including in vulnerable and minoritised groups; (4) conduct randomised controlled trials on psychological interventions and pharmacotherapy for gambling disorder; (5) improve understanding of the neurobiological basis of gambling disorder, including impulsivity and compulsivity, genetics, and biomarkers; and (6) develop clinical guidelines based on the best contemporary research evidence to guide effective clinical interventions. We also highlight the need to consider what can be learnt from approaches towards mitigating gambling-related harm in other countries.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Behavior, Addictive*
Gambling* / epidemiology
Gambling* / therapy
Humans
Prevalence
Research
United Kingdom / epidemiology

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding