Pathological gambling has been considered a psychiatric disorder for no longer than 20 years, still being not well studied. It can be considered an impulsive-compulsive spectrum disorder with shared characteristics with substance use disorder. There are three phases that can be identified in the gambling behavior: victory, loss and despair. This article will show a case report of a patient diagnosed as pathological gambler. We intend to discuss some aspects related to the combined approach (medication plus psychotherapy) and present theories about pathological gambling.
pathological gambling; treatment; comorbidity