Psychological or Psychiatric Issues Related to Problem Gambling

Mr Chen Show Mao asked the Minister for Health (a) how many people have been identified with psychological or psychiatric issues related to problem gambling in each year from 2006 to 2015; and (b) of these, what are the most common psychological or psychiatric issues identified.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Between FY08 and FY15, the number of patients seen by the National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) for suspected gambling disorder each year varies between 168 and 526, averaging 407 over the last five years.

Among patients with pathological gambling treated at NAMS, the top associated psychiatric conditions were adjustment disorders, depression and substance abuse.