Self-Reported Gambling-Related Suicidality
Among Gambling Helpline Callers

David M. Ledgerwood
Yale University School of Medicine

Marvin A. Steinberg
Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling

Ran Wu and Marc N. Potenza
Yale University School of Medicine

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ABSTRACT
Problem gamblers often attribute suicidal ideation or attempts to their gambling. Logistic regression analyses were applied to data from problem gamblers (N = 986) calling a helpline. Problem gamblers reporting gambling-related suicidality (n = 252; 25.6%) were more likely than those denying it (n = 734; 74.4%) to acknowledge family, financial, legal, and mental and substance-related problems. Of problem gamblers acknowledging gambling-related suicidality, those reporting gambling-related suicide attempts (n = 53; 21.5%) were more likely than those denying them (n = 193; 78.5%) to acknowledge gambling-related illegal behaviors, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and family histories of alcohol problems, and were less likely to report prior gambling treatment. The findings suggest that increased gambling severity is associated with gambling-related suicidality.

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Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 2005, Vol. 19, No. 2, 175-183

David M. Ledgerwood, Ran Wu, and Marc N. Potenza, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine; Marvin A. Steinberg, Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Guilford, Connecticut.

David M. Ledgerwood is now at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Marc N. Potenza, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, Room S-104, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, E-mail marc.potenza@yale.edu.

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