The coronavirus pandemic affected the life of those suffering from addictive behaviors often confined to prolonged periods of self-isolation. To explore the variation of symptoms related to gambling, 46 outpatients of the mental health services in the Trento Province were invited to take part in a phone interview at the start of the national lockdown. Although only 2.17% increased gambling activity during this period, half of the sample (50.00%) experienced irritability, mood fluctuation (43.48%) and anxiety (39.13%). Follow-up studies should assess modifications in their behaviors that occurred after the reopening of gambling venues.
Keywords: AMA, Auto Mutuo Aiuto; APSS, Aziwnda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari; Behavioral addiction; COVID-19; Depression; Gambling; HAM-D, Hamilton Depressions Rating Scale; Internet addiction; Mental health; Online gambling; SERD, Servizio Dipendenze; VLT, Video Lottery Terminal.
© 2022 The Author(s).