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The DSM-5 has modified the diagnostic criteria for gambling disorder, compared to the fourth edition of the manual; new diagnostic instruments are therefore needed. This study evaluated the psychometric characteristics of the Gambling Disorder Screening Questionnaire (GDSQ), a self-report questionnaire based on the DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria for Gambling Disorder, measuring its validity, internal consistency, and submitting the questionnaire to a principal components analysis.71 patients from a gambling disorder outpatient clinic and 70 controls were evaluated with the GDSQ, the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), and a psychiatric interview.The test showed a good sensibility, specificity, internal consistency, concurrent validity with the SOGS. The exclusion of the “illegal acts” item, and the lowering of the cut-off score to four positive items, as suggested by the DSM-5 criteria, improved the test sensibility and internal consistency.The GDSQ can be considered a useful screening test for Gambling Disorder. Furthermore, this study confirms the improved diagnostic accuracy of the criteria listed in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, compared to the previous edition.

IntroductionPathological gambling (PG) is currently included among Addictive Disorders (DSM-5). However, its phenomenology resembles features of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Several models of addiction conceptualize a progression from impulsivity to compulsivity transitioning from initial positive reinforcement motivations to later negative reinforcement and less pleasurable and automaticity mechanisms.Clinical presentationA 34-year-old male, since diagnosed with PG in 2013 and prescribed a group rehabilitation therapy, presented in 2015 complaining of intrusive thoughts and depression symptoms. During the psychiatric examination emerged: low mental concentration; dysphoria; hyporexia; irritability; insomnia; persistent ideas and excessive preoccupations to be betrayed by his girlfriend; and behaviours of hyper control on her life. He has been evaluated using MMPI-2 (obsessivity Tscore 70, depression Tscore 67) and BIS-11 (high score of non-planning impulsiveness).TreatmentIt appeared there was a shift from ego-syntonic novelty driven/impulsive behaviours focused primarily on gambling to ego-dystonic habit driven/compulsive behaviours focused on her girlfriend. He started an individual psychodynamic psychotherapy centred on dysfunctional beliefs and behavioural strategies for treating the compulsive features. As thought content was the most relevant aspect, he was prescribed olanzapine, not a SSRI (normally indicated for OCD), up to 10 mg/die. After a month obsessions and compulsions reduced, and he seemed to reach a good level of personal functioning, despite a rigid anankastic personality trait.ConclusionsAs the management of compulsive behaviours is complex, physician should better assess and recognize psychological personality aspect, collecting patients’ complete history, also testing them psychometrically, and paying more attention to an eventual treatment (both psychological and pharmacological).Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Background and Aims Internet Gambling has become one of the most popular and lucrative internet business. The recent improvements in technology have changed betting habits with online poker, casinos, sport betting, bingo and lotteries. Liberalization of the Italian online gambling market gradually started in 2006, but only in 2010 foreign gambling operators have been able to launch online real money games. Our aim is to study the impulsivity and personality traits of an Italian sample of Pathological Gamblers (PG), showing the peculiarities of Online Gambling (OG). Methods 69 patients affected by PG, who accessed to our clinical center, were asked to fill the following questionnaires: - Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) - Europ-ASI (Addiction Severity Index) - Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) Results we found significant statistical correlations between OG and: younger age (p Conclusions internet gamblers’ young age could explain the correlations between OG and higher scores in NS1, HA2 and ST3, and consequently risky behaviours and less spiritual believes/acceptance. Higher scores in Persistence indicate perseverance in spite of fatigue or frustration. Cloninger's research found that Persistence, like the other temperament traits, is highly heritable.