The epidemiology of pathological gambling: Critique of existing research and alternative strategies

As legalized gambling opportunities increase, the performance of research on pathological gambling assumes greater importance. In this regard, a useful starting point involves documenting the epidemiological nature of pathological gambling. Unfortunately, the only systematic study of the incidence/prevalence of pathological gambling which has yielded widely publicized and frequently cited results appears to possess several methodological problems. Thus, this paper critiques this study and discusses methodological issues relevant to any epidemiological research effort. In addition to sampling and measurement concerns, issues such as data accessibility, denial and related reactive effects, ethical considerations, and the appropriateness of various data collection methods are discussed to promote the conduct of sound pathological gambling research.