Prevalence and correlates of gambling problems among forensic psychiatric patients: evidence of elevated rates from a multi-site study
8 affiliations
- 1Research Clinic on Gambling Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital
- 2Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital
- 3Department of Clinical Medicine, Health, Aarhus University
- 4Department of Sociology and Social Work, Aalborg University
- 5DEFACTUM - Social & Health Services and Labour Market, Central Denmark Region
- 6Competence Centre for Forensic Psychiatry, Copenhagen University Hospital
- 7Department of Law, University of Southern Denmark
- 8Department of Functional Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital
Abstract
Introduction: Gambling problems (GP) remain underexplored among forensic psychiatric patients (FPPs). Given the associations between GP, mental distress, and criminal behavior, it is imperative to investigate GP in this population.
Aims: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of gambling and GP among FPPs in Denmark and explore associations between GP and sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical variables.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, including 214 FPPs across 19 hospital units in two major Danish Health Regions. The primary measures were past-year gambling and GP assessed via the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Secondary measures included gambling behavior (e.g., expenditure, frequency, self-exclusion), sociodemographic (e.g., age, gender, educational attainment), financial (e.g., consumer loans, monetary savings), and clinical variables (e.g., length of stay, psychiatric diagnoses). Gambling FPPs were asked if they had felt compelled to commit crime due to gambling during the past 12 months. Correlates of GP were identified by comparing higher-risk (PGSI ≥ 3) to lower-risk (PGSI ≤2) gambling FPPs. Prevalence was compared to a gender- and age-matched normative sample from a recent Danish national gambling survey.
Results: The prevalence of past-year gambling among FPPs was 46% (95% CI = 39-53%), while the prevalence of severe GP (PGSI ≥ 8, indicative of gambling disorder) was 12% (95% CI: 8.1-17%). Relative to lower-risk gambling FPPs (PGSI ≤2), higher-risk FPPs (PGSI ≥ 3) were more likely to be male, to express poorer financial conditions, and to have felt compelled to engage in criminal behavior due to gambling. GP prevalence was markedly higher among FPPs than in the normative sample, where 1.8% reported severe GP (PGSI ≥ 8) (95% CI: 1.3-2.5%).
Discussion and Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the prevalence of gambling and GP among FPPs, and the rates were considerable. Given the consequences that GP may have on FPP health and economy, and thus recovery, our findings underscore the potential benefits of screening for and addressing GP in forensic psychiatric care. There is a strong need for further research to inform tailored interventions, improve treatment, and mitigate the potential impact of gambling on recidivism risk.
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BibTeX
@article{eriksen2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence and correlates of gambling problems among forensic psychiatric patients: evidence of elevated rates from a multi-site study}},
author = {Jakob W. Eriksen and Lisbeth U. Sørensen and Søren Kristiansen and Morten D. Terkildsen and Rasmus M. Hansen and Thomas Marcussen and Mette Brandt-Christensen and Asbjørn Storgaard and Kaare B. Wellnitz and Lisbeth Frostholm},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1931287},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1931287/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence and correlates of gambling problems among forensic psychiatric patients: evidence of elevated rates from a multi-site study
AU - Jakob W. Eriksen
AU - Lisbeth U. Sørensen
AU - Søren Kristiansen
AU - Morten D. Terkildsen
AU - Rasmus M. Hansen
AU - Thomas Marcussen
AU - Mette Brandt-Christensen
AU - Asbjørn Storgaard
AU - Kaare B. Wellnitz
AU - Lisbeth Frostholm
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1931287
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1931287/full
AB - Introduction: Gambling problems (GP) remain underexplored among forensic psychiatric patients (FPPs). Given the associations between GP, mental distress, and criminal behavior, it is imperative to investigate GP in this population. Aims: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of gambling and GP among FPPs in Denmark and explore associations between GP and sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical variables. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, including 214 FPPs across 19 hospital units in two major Danish Health Regions. The primary measures were past-year gambling and GP assessed via the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Secondary measures included gambling behavior (e.g., expenditure, frequency, self-exclusion), sociodemographic (e.g., age, gender, educational attainment), financial (e.g., consumer loans, monetary savings), and clinical variables (e.g., length of stay, psychiatric diagnoses). Gambling FPPs were asked if they had felt compelled to commit crime due to gambling during the past 12 months. Correlates of GP were identified by comparing higher-risk (PGSI ≥ 3) to lower-risk (PGSI ≤2) gambling FPPs. Prevalence was compared to a gender- and age-matched normative sample from a recent Danish national gambling survey. Results: The prevalence of past-year gambling among FPPs was 46% (95% CI = 39-53%), while the prevalence of severe GP (PGSI ≥ 8, indicative of gambling disorder) was 12% (95% CI: 8.1-17%). Relative to lower-risk gambling FPPs (PGSI ≤2), higher-risk FPPs (PGSI ≥ 3) were more likely to be male, to express poorer financial conditions, and to have felt compelled to engage in criminal behavior due to gambling. GP prevalence was markedly higher among FPPs than in the normative sample, where 1.8% reported severe GP (PGSI ≥ 8) (95% CI: 1.3-2.5%). Discussion and Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the prevalence of gambling and GP among FPPs, and the rates were considerable. Given the consequences that GP may have on FPP health and economy, and thus recovery, our findings underscore the potential benefits of screening for and addressing GP in forensic psychiatric care. There is a strong need for further research to inform tailored interventions, improve treatment, and mitigate the potential impact of gambling on recidivism risk.
SN - 1664-0640
ER -