Problem-Gambling Severity, Suicidality, and DSM-IV Axis I Psychiatric Disorders

Studies have examined relationships between suicidality and problem gambling and suicidality and Axis I psychiatric disorders. However, questions remain regarding how suicidality may influence relationships between problem-gambling severity and Axis I disorders. Using a sample of 13,543 participants with mood symptomatology from Wave 1 of the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions study (NESARC), we examined the relationship between different levels of problem-gambling severity and DSM-IV Axis I psychiatric disorders according to suicidality level. Bivariate analyses were conducted to examine the association between problem-gambling severity, sociodemographic characteristics, and presence or absence of past-year Axis I disorders according to suicidality status. Next, a series of adjusted logistic regression analyses evaluated the relationships between problem-gambling severity and psychopathology according to suicidality level. The relationships between Axis I psychiatric disorders and problem-gambling severity were largely not moderated by suicidal ideation or attempt. A possible exception was observed with panic disorder in which a stronger relationship was observed in the relationship between low-risk gambling (vs low-frequency/non-gambling) in the group with suicide attempts as compared with that without attempt or ideation, suggesting the importance of considering subsyndromal gambling behaviors, particularly among individuals with panic disorder and suicidal tendencies.