Developing mental illness after losing at gambling.

In Ha Tinh, a 34-year-old male patient, addicted to gambling, lost an estimated billions of dong betting on football matches, leading to a mental illness.

The patient, residing in Ha Tinh city, had a history of good health, did not use stimulants, and began gambling while a university student, mainly betting on football with normal frequency and amounts.

After graduating, the patient worked for a foreign company, earning a decent income, but at the same time, he gambled more and more frequently. This led to family conflicts and divorce, after which the man started spending months at internet cafes eating, socializing, and playing online card games.

According to family members, the patient spent 60-80 million VND per month on gambling, and his current debt amounts to several billion VND.

A few weeks ago, he became more tired and insecure, had negative thoughts, lost 10 kg, and experienced palpitations, rapid heartbeat, trembling hands and feet, and hot flashes all over his body. His family took him to the Bach Mai Institute of Mental Health ( Hanoi ) for examination.

Here, the results showed that the patient suffered from anxiety and depression, and was treated with medication combined with psychological counseling. Currently, the man is less anxious and is eating and sleeping well.

A patient is receiving psychological treatment from a doctor at the Institute of Mental Health. Photo: Le Nga — A patient is receiving psychological treatment from a doctor at the Institute of Mental Health. Photo: *Le Nga.*

On February 26th, Dr. Le Thi Thu Ha, Head of Department M7, Institute of Mental Health, stated that gambling disorder (pathological gambling/gambling addiction) involves repeated gambling behaviors, leading to problems for individuals, families, and society.

Gambling addiction, or addiction to games of chance, is a mental disorder comparable to alcohol or drug addiction. It is characterized by a disruption of the brain's systems. Patients exhibit four or more of the following signs: A growing need to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired thrill; restlessness or irritability when trying to cut back or stop gambling; repeated successful attempts to control, cut back, or stop gambling; constant preoccupation with gambling (e.g., persistent thoughts about reliving past gambling experiences or planning the next gamble, thinking about how to obtain money to gamble); lying to conceal the extent of their involvement in gambling...

"People with gambling disorders may also have eating disorders, sleep disorders, exercise disorders, and other health-related behavioral problems, leading to negative physical and mental outcomes," Dr. Ha said.

In particular, gambling disorder often occurs concurrently with substance use disorders, affective disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. Dr. Ha stated that studies have also found that people with gambling disorder have a very high rate of personality disorders, over 60%; affective disorders, around 50%; and anxiety disorders, over 40%.

Patients may receive psychotherapy, brain modulation, and pharmacotherapy. After discharge, they need follow-up appointments and significant psychological support from their families.

Le Nga

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