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Table 2 Positive endorsement and classification accuracy of the DSM-IV-MR-J criteria during the past year

From: At-risk and problem gambling among adolescents: a convenience sample of first-year junior high school students in Finland

DSM-IV-MR-J

 

All respondents

ARPGers

Sensitivity

Specificity

n=988

n=78

Dimension

Criteria

n (%, CI)

n (%, CI)

  

1. Preoccupation

Preoccupied with gambling (e.g. thinking about gambling or planning next venture).

28 (2.8±1.0)

24 (30.8±10.3)

0.31

0.99

2. Tolerance

Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement.

45 (4.6±1.3)

40 (51.3±11.1)

0.51

0.99

3. Withdrawal

Restlessness or irritability when attempting to cut down or stop gambling.

20 (2.0±0.9)

19 (24.4±9.5)

0.24

0.99

4. Loss of control

Often spent much more money on gambling than planned.

53 (5.4±1.4)

38 (48.7±11.1)

0.49

0.98

5. Escape

Gambles as a way of escaping from problems or relieving dysphoric mood (e.g. feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression).

9 (0.9±0.6)

8 (10.3±6.8)

0.10

0.99

6. Chasing

After losing money gambling, often returns another day in order to get even (“chasing” one’s losses).

30 (3.0±1.1)

29 (37.2±10.7)

0.37

0.99

7. Lies

Lies to family about gambling behaviour.

41 (4.1±1.2)

38 (48.7±11.1)

0.49

0.99

8. Illegal acts

Committed unsocial or illegal acts, such as gambling with school dinner or fare money, stealing from home or from outside home.

115 (11.6±2.0)

61 (78.2±9.2)

0.78

0.94

9. Risked job/education/relationship

Has had arguments with family, friends or others, or truanted from school because of gambling.

24 (2.4±1.0)

17 (21.8±9.2)

0.22

0.99

Total score* ≥2

 

78 (7.9±1.7)

-

-

 
  1. *At-risk/problem gambling (ARPG) was defined using the DSM-IV-MR-J score≥2 [46]; CI, Confidence Intervals.