LAUSR

Sir, According to DSM-5, gambling disorder is defined as persistent and problematic gambling behavior leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. In DSM-5, gambling disorder is placed under substance-related and addictive disorders but was previously under the impulse control disorders in earlier edition. This shift is due to the current research which has highlighted the common biological underpinnings between gambling and substance use disorders. Many studies have found similarities between pathological gambling and drug abuse (Wareham and Potenza, 2010). Since the co-morbidity between these two disorders is very high, it is suggested that common genetic factors may play a role (Slutske et al., 2000). It is also seen that these two disorders have common neurobiological processes underlying the rewards and urges. Dysregulation in the dopamine and serotonin systems play a central role in alcohol use disorders and pathological gambling (Potenza, 2008). Thus, common etiologic factors for both these disorders could be partially genetic and mediated through the nervous circuits and neurotransmitters (Grant et al., 2002). Various studies show that prevalence of pathological gambling is four to 10 times higher in substance users when compared with the general population. In a study by Perty et al., it was found that 30.1% of substance abusers were engaging in pathological gambling when assessed using South Oaks Gambling Screen scale (SOGS) (Petry and Armentano, 1999). It was also reported that substance users with pathological gambling had higher frequency and severity of paranoia and hostility. This has implications in the treatment aspect of substance use disorders (Petry, 2000). In India, there has been an increase in the number of games of chance in different recreational centers along with increase in online internet chance games (Basu et al., 2015). Despite this, there have been no epidemiological studies in the India assessing the prevalence of pathological gambling in general population or in substance use disorder patients in particular. Taking into account that high prevalence of pathological gambling in alcohol use disorder population by studies done elsewhere, the present study is designed to assess the prevalence of pathological gambling in patients with alcohol dependence syndrome admitted to a deaddiction center attached to a tertiary care hospital at Chennai. The aim of the current study was to assess the prevalence of pathological gambling in patients with alcohol dependence syndrome. The participants of the study were recruited consecutively from the De-addiction center Institute of Mental Health, Madras Medical College, over a period of 6 months. Diagnosis of