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An Overview of and Rationale for Changes Proposed for Pathological Gambling in DSM-5

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Abstract

The fifth revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is scheduled for publication in 2013. It will include several changes to the diagnosis of pathological gambling: the name of the disorder will be altered, the threshold for diagnosis will decrease, and one criterion will be removed. This paper reviews the rationale for these changes and addresses how they may impact diagnosis and treatment of the disorder, as well as potential for future research in the field.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge other members of Substance Use and Related Disorders Workgroup: Alan Budney, Wilson Compton, Walter Ling, and Marc Schuckit, who participated in the discussions and decisions outlined in this report. Preparation of this article was supported in part by grant R01-DA021567.

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Correspondence to Nancy M. Petry.

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The views and opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and should not be construed to represent the views of any of the sponsoring organizations, agencies, or the US government.

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Petry, N.M., Blanco, C., Auriacombe, M. et al. An Overview of and Rationale for Changes Proposed for Pathological Gambling in DSM-5. J Gambl Stud 30, 493–502 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-013-9370-0

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