Sari Castrén

Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare | THL · Department of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction

Aim: Prevalence studies on gambling have largely relied on survey samples. Little is known about the diagnosed prevalence of gambling disorder (GD) based on register data. This study examines the annual prevalence rate of GD between 2011 and 2020 among Finns by gender and age. Methods: Aggregated data on the diagnosis of GD (corresponding to pathol...

Objective: There are tens of millions of problem gamblers in the world, many of whom either do not seek treatment or fail to commit to it. Dropout rates are high, and not enough is known about factors predicting treatment adherence. We focus on an online cognitive behavioral therapy program for severe problem gambling to determine the likelihood o...

Background and aims: Loot boxes are in-game items which distribute rewards to players via random-number generation; many games require players to make in-game payments to access their contents. The combination of financial outlay and random rewards has raised concern about similarities to gambling. This debate paper presents a series of themes ide...

Background and aims The aims were to examine how socio-demographics and gambling behavior relate to both primary and additional gambling motives, and whether the gambling motives change during a one-year-period. Methods The Finnish Gambling Harms Survey data was used. Gambling motives were measured with a categorical question. Gambling severity wa...

Purpose: Adolescents' excessive social media use has characteristics similar to other addictive behaviours. This study aims to explore whether the same risk factors are associated with excessive social media use as with excessive gaming and gambling among Finnish adolescents. Methods: Multinomial logistic regression analyses were carried out usi...

Background and aims Online interventions for problem gambling are increasingly popular, but not everyone benefits from them. We describe 12 years of real-world data from an online intervention for gambling problems and aim to find out the extent to which depression, alcohol use, and sense of financial control influence the effectiveness of the prog...

This study investigates the prevalence of being an affected other (AO) of a person with problem gambling; and the associations between being an AO and socio-demographics, gambling behaviour, health-related correlates and the amount and type of gambling-related harm (GRH) for the AOs. Furthermore, perspectives of the affected family members (AFMs) a...

Background and aims Research recognizes the extent of harm experienced by concerned significant others (CSOs) of gamblers. This systematic review’s aims are to examine the interventions for CSOs, evaluate potential benefits, and thematically describe treatment processes. The Stress-Strain-Coping-Support model (SSCS) served as the theoretical framew...

Background and aims The convergence of gaming and gambling may pose a risk for adolescents. Thus, it is important to find out how these behaviours are associated with other addictive behaviours in order to develop efficient preventive measures for youth. The aim of this study was to examine 1) whether problematic gaming and money used for gaming ac...

Aims This study explores the prevalence of being a past-year affected other (AO) of a problem gambler by gender. The aims were to study the amount and type of gambling-related harms (GRHs) for subgroups of AOs and to distinguish GRH profiles for AO subgroups. Methods A total of 7186 adults aged 18 years and over participated in the Gambling Harms S...

Background Gambling disorder (GD) is a global phenomenon affecting millions of people. GD can result in severe social and financial difficulties and efficacious treatments are warranted. Psychosocial treatments form the basis of treatment. Opioid antagonists (OAs) have however shown promise in previous studies. In a recent imaging study intranasal...

Problem gambling is known to be prevalent among prisoners. However, it is not systematically screened and often remains undetected. This pilot study explores prison workers’ (N = 21) knowledge, views, and opinions about problem gambling in two Finnish prisons with a view to improving training and to developing better guidelines for identifying and...

Introduction Extraversion and conscientiousness are well‐studied personality traits associated with reward processing and goal prioritization, respectively, and bear on individual differences in financial risk‐taking. Using unique large datasets, we investigated the link between these traits and male online gamblers’ actual betting participation an...

INTRODUCTION. Extraversion and conscientiousness are well-studied personality traits associated with reward processing and goal prioritization, respectively, and bear on individual differences in financial risk-taking. Using unique large datasets, we investigated the link between these traits and male online gamblers’ actual betting participation a...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the prevalence of potential problem gambling among Finnish prisoners; the associations between problem gambling and demographics, substance use and crime-related factors; and problem gamblers’ support preferences. Design/methodology/approach Prisoners ( n =96) from two Finnish prisons were recruited...

Background and aim There is growing interest in the use of medication-assisted treatments for gambling disorder (GD). Opioid receptor antagonists are hypothesised to blunt the craving associated with gambling. This study was designed to assess the feasibility of using an intranasal naloxone spray to treat GD. Design An 8-week, open-label, uncontro...

Purpose of review Only a few pharmacological treatments are available for treating alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Disulfiram, naltrexone and acamprosate are Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved and nalmefene is EMAapproved in European Union. Off-label medications, such as baclofen, gabapentin, ondansetron and topiramate are medications common...

Purpose of review: Only a few pharmacological treatments are available for treating alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Disulfiram, naltrexone and acamprosate are Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved and nalmefene is EMA-approved in European Union. Off-label medications, such as baclofen, gabapentin, ondansetron and topiramate are medications com...

Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate trends in past-year gambling participation and gambling severity among Finnish men and women from 2007 to 2015. Design Cross-sectional population surveys from years 2007, 2011 and 2015. Setting Data were drawn from the population register and collected using computer-assisted telephone interviews. P...

Background: Excessive expenditure and financial harms are core features of problem gambling. There are various forms of gambling and their nature varies. The aim was to measure gambling expenditure by game type while controlling for demographics and other gambling participation factors. A further aim was to find out how each game type was associat...

Background: This report is an overview of results from the 2016 Finnish Gambling Harms Survey covering the population and clinical perspectives. It summarises the main findings on gambling participation, gambling habits, gambling-related harm, and opinions on gambling advertising. Methods: The population sample (n = 7186) was collected from thre...

Oma-apu opas rahapeliongelmaan. Työkirjassa on nelja osioita: ongelman kartoitus; päätöksen tekeminen; tavoitteen asettaminen ja keinot tavoitteiden saavuttamiseen ja päätöksessä pysyminen. Linkki sähköiseen versioon: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-302-990-3

Understanding of the harmfulness of game types is needed when planning harm minimization and prevention strategies. Adult data (N = 3555) from the Finnish Gambling 2015 survey was used to investigate the associations between different game types and gambling-related harms. A negative binomial regression model was used to analyse the effects of demo...

Suomalaisten rahapelikulutusta ja haittoja on tutkittu niukasti, vaikka suomalaiset pelaavat väestöpohjaan suhteutettuna eniten Euroopassa. Runsaaseen rahapelaamiseen liittyy rahapelihaittoja. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on tarkastella rahapelikulutusta, sosiodemogra sia taustatekijöitä, koettua terveydentilaa ja rahapelaamista suomalaisessa vä...

Aims: This study aims to explore the associations between final compulsory school grades and gambling and their relation to substance use and perceived mental health among people aged 18-29 in Finland (N = 831). Methods: Cross-sectional random sample data, weighted on the basis of age, gender and region of residence, were collected in 2015. The...

Aims: To investigate gambling expenditure and its relationship with socio-demographics, health-related correlates and past-year gambling behaviour. Design: Cross-sectional population survey. Setting: Population-based survey in Finland. Participants: Finnish people aged 15-74 years randomly drawn from the Population Information System. The pa...

Empirical evidence has shown that youth gamble on both regulated and unregulated games, despite legislative prohibitions. This study assesses middle and high school teachers’ awareness and attitudes regarding adolescent gambling and other potentially high-risk behaviours in Finland. A convenience sample of teachers (N = 157) from 13 provinces parti...

The underlying structure of problematic gambling behaviors, such as those assessed by the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), remain unknown: Can problem gambling be assessed unidimensionally or should multiple qualitatively different dimensions be taken into account, and if so, what do these qualitative dimensions indicate? How significant are the...

The expansion of online gambling opportunities calls for better comprehension of online gambling, including relevant gender specific correlates. This study compared online and land-based gamblers among males and females separately, utilizing a nationally representative Finnish survey sample of 18-74 year olds. Online gamblers were younger than land...

Background Information about public gambling attitudes and gambling participation is crucial for the effective prevention of gambling-related harm. This study investigates female and male attitudes towards gambling, gambling participation, and gambling-related harm in the Finnish population aged 15–74. Methods Cross-sectional random sample data wer...

Aims: This study investigates the proportion of concerned significant others (CSOs) of problem gamblers at population level and describes the extent and type of gambling harms for CSOs. Methods: Cross-sectional random sample data (n = 4515) were collected in 2015. The data were weighted based on age, gender and residence. CSOs were identified using...

TIIVISTELMÄ Sari Castrén & Hannu Alho & Anne H. Salonen: Rahapeliongelma sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollossa – ammattilaisten näkemyksiä Rahapeliongelmien tunnistaminen on haastavaa sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon ammattilaisille. Rahapeliongelmien hoitotarjonta on hajanaista Suomessa, ja toistaiseksi rahapeliongelmat eivät sisälly sosiaali- ja terveyden...

This review aims to clarify which instruments measuring at-risk and problem gambling (ARPG) among youth are reliable and valid in light of reported estimates of internal consistency, classification accuracy, and psychometric properties. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, and PsycInfo covering the years 2009–2015. In total, 50 ori...

Suomentajan alkusanat Rahapeliriippuvuus hallintaan on kognitiivista käyttäytymisterapiaa soveltava hoito- ohjelma rahapeliriippuvuuden hoitoon. Menetelmää on käytetty hyvin tuloksin eri puolilla maailmaa. Tämä alun perin Kanadassa kehitetty hoito-ohjelma perustuu laajan tieteelliseen tutkimukseen ja kansainvälisiin suosituksiin. Hoito-ohjelmaan ku...

Suomentajan alkusanat Rahapeliriippuvuus hallintaan on kognitiivista käyttäytymisterapiaa soveltava hoito- ohjelma rahapeliriippuvuuden hoitoon. Menetelmää on käytetty hyvin tuloksin eri puolilla maailmaa. Tämä alun perin Kanadassa kehitetty hoito-ohjelma perustuu laajan tieteelliseen tutkimukseen ja kansainvälisiin suosituksiin. Hoito-ohjelmaan ku...

Aims The aims were to compare past-year at-risk and problem gambling (ARPG) and other at-risk behaviours (computer gaming, risky alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking) by age and gender, and to explore how ARPG is associated with risky alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, poor mental health and loneliness in males and females. Design Data from res...

Background/aims: Effective treatment strategies are needed for the treatment of pathological gambling (PG). The efficacy of as-needed naltrexone was assessed in a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Methods: The participants (n = 101) received either as-needed placebo or naltrexone (50 mg) and psychosocial support...

The study investigated Finnish 7th grade school children's gambling behaviour and gambling prevalence. Participants (N = 988) in this study were from eleven schools in Finland.Χ2X-tests, mean comparisons and correlations were used to analyse the data. The retention rate was 9.,6%. Nearly one-third of the participants had gambled once or twice. .,0%...

Alkoholin ongelmakäytön tunnistaminen ja hoito Alkoholin ongelmakäyttäjän hoidossa on tärkeää ottaa huomioon potilaan muutosvalmiuden eri vaiheet. Ongelmakäytön varhainen tunnistaminen ja käyttäjän motivoiminen hoitoon ehkäisee haittojen määrää. Mini-interventio on varhaisvaiheen riskikäyttäjille suositeltava hoitomuoto. Lääkehoitona käytetään disu...

Background Adolescent gambling and substance use are viewed as a public health concern internationally. The early onset age of gambling is a known risk factor for developing gambling problems later in life. The aims of this study are: to evaluate the internal consistency reliability, factorial validity and classification accuracy of the Finnish ver...

• Rahapeliongelmaan erikoistuneiden palvelujen tarjonta on toistaiseksi ollut Suomessa hajanaista. Rahapelihaittojen hoitoon ovat keskittyneet lähinnä järjestöt, ja jonkin verran hoitoa on tuotettu myös osana päihdepalveluja. • Sen sijaan tuki- ja neuvontapalvelujen, erityisesti virtuaalisen ja vertaistuen, tarjonta Suomessa on laaja-alaista ja pal...

Aims: This study compares past-year gambling frequency, gambling problems and concerned significant others (CSOs) of problem gamblers in Finland by age, from 2007 and 2011. Methods: We used random sample data collected in 2007 (n = 4722) and 2011 (n = 4484). The data were weighted, based on gender, age and region of residence. We measured the pa...

To describe and analyse the Finnish gambling market, regulatory system, and the state of gambling research as well as the treatment system in operation for problem gamblers. A review of the literature and official documents relating to gambling in Finland, focusing primarily on the 1990s and 2000s. Only in recent years have gambling problems become...

Johdanto Tässä tutkimuksessa selvitettiin suomalaisten seitsemäsluokkalaisten (keski-ikä 13,4 vuotta) rahapelikäyttäytymistä ja rahapeliongelmien esiintyvyyttä. Lisäksi tarkasteltiin rahapelikäyttäytymisen, videopelaamisen ja elintapojen sekä läheisten rahapelaamisen yhteyttä rahapeliongelmiin. Menetelmät Kyselytutkimus toteutettiin 11:ssa kouluss...

Abstract Background Substance abuse and gambling problems are associated, however, studies on gambling problems among opioid substitution treatment (OST) patients are scarce. The aims of this study are to explore the association of gender, age, treatment medication and treatment program with gambling behaviour, including gambling participation and...

Tässä katsauksessa käsitellään yleistynyttä ahdistuneisuushäiriötä (murehtimista) ja sen tunnistamista sekä esitellään kuinka perusterveydenhuollossa toimiva lääkäri voi tunnistaessaan murehtijanottaa asian puheeksi, tukea ja hoitaa potilasta sekä tarvittaessa ohjata potilaan psykiatrisen hoidon tai psykologisen tuen piiriin. katsauksessa käsitellä...

Background Attitudes towards gambling influence gambling behaviour but also reflect the existing gambling policy in a society. However, studies examining general attitudes towards gambling at the population level are scarce. The first aim of this study was to investigate general attitudes of the Finnish population towards gambling. The second aim w...

Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli kartoittaa Peli poikki ‑ohjelman osallistujien (N = 471, joista 325 miestä ja 146 naista) sosiodemografisia taustatekijöitä, alkoholinkäyttöä ja masennusta sekä heidän hoito‑ohjelmasta saamaansa hyötyä. 64 prosenttia osallistujista kärsi rahapeliriippuvuudesta, 14 prosenttia rahapeliongelmasta ja 10 prosenttia riskipel...

Artikkelissa kuvataan ja arvioidaan aikuisten rahapeliriippuvuuden tunnistamiseen kehitettyjä mittareita. Kansainvälisten katsausten perusteella tarkasteluun poimittiin 14 mittaria tai mittariversiota ryhmiteltyinä pitkiin, keskipitkiin ja lyhyisiin mittareihin. Artikkelissa kuvataan mittareiden taustalla olevia perusteita, mittareiden käyttötarkoi...

Problem gambling not only impacts those directly involved, but also the concerned significant others (CSOs) of problem gamblers. The aims of this study were to investigate the proportion of male and female CSOs at the population level; to investigate who the CSOs were concerned about; and to investigate sociodemographic factors, gender differences,...

Rahapeliriippuvuuden diagnostiikka muutoksessa • • Suomessa • pelataan • rahapelejä • suhteellisen • runsaasti: • 78 • % • väestöstä • pelaa • rahapelejä • satunnaisesti • ja • noin • kolmannes • vähintään • kerran • viikossa. • Noin • prosentille • väestöstä • rahapelaaminen • on • • muodostunut • vaikea-asteiseksi • ongelmaksi. • • Rahapeliriippu...

Low threshold virtual support is an emerging form of treatment for problem gamblers. The advantages of virtual support are cost-efficacy and good availability. A special advantage of web-environment is the possibility to modify the virtual support programs separately for diverse subgroups of problem gamblers.

Virtuaalitukipalveluja on sovellettu menestyksekkäästi monien terveys- ja riippuvuusongelmien hoidossa. Virtuaalituen etuja ovat hyvä saatavuus, kustannustehokkuus ja anonyymiys. Virtuaaliympäristö luo hyvät mahdollisuudet palvelujen kehittämiselle ja päivittämiselle muuttuvien asiakastarpeiden mukaisesti. Lisäksi se mahdollistaa tuen joustava...

Disordered gambling is a multifaceted phenomenon, and consequently many factors have a role in its development and maintenance. Adverse consequences of disordered gambling can be mental, social and legal. Only a few epidemiological studies of disordered gambling have previously been conducted in Finland, and none of these studies have been publishe...

The purpose of this study was to compare the socio-demographic characteristics of non-problem gamblers, problem gamblers and pathological gamblers, to investigate the association between gambling related factors as well as perceived health and well-being among the three subgroups of gamblers, and to analyse simultaneously socio-demographic characte...

Background Gambling problems currently affect approximately 100 000 Finns. In order to prevent and reduce gambling-related harms it is crucial for the Finnish public health authorities to gain a stronger understanding of the association between gambling problems and related socio-demographic factors, other commonly co-occurring dependencies (e.g. a...