The Diagnostic Screen for Gambling Problems

Score: A score of 0 indicates that results are not consistent with problematic levels of gambling. A score of 1 or 2 means that results are consistent with mild but subclinical risk for gambling problems. A score of 3 or 4 indicates results are consistent with moderate but subclinical gambling problems. A score of 5 or higher means that results are consistent with a likely diagnosis of pathological gambling, consistent with the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV.

1. Have there ever been periods lasting 2 weeks or longer when you spent a lot of time thinking about your gambling experiences, or planning out future gambling ventures or bets?
2. Have there ever been periods lasting 2 weeks or longer when you spent a lot of time thinking about ways of getting money to gamble with?
3. Have there ever been periods when you needed to gamble with increasing amounts of money or with larger bets than before in order to get the same feeling of excitement?
4. Have you ever tried to stop, cut down, or control your gambling?
5. On one or more of the times when you tried to stop, cut down, or control your gambling, were you restless or irritable?
6. Have you ever tried but not succeeded in stopping, cutting down, or controlling your gambling?
7. Has this happened three or more times?
8. Have you ever gambled to relieve uncomfortable feelings such as guilt, anxiety, helplessness, or depression?
9. Have you ever gambled as a way to escape from personal problems?
10. Has there ever been a period when, if you lost money gambling one day, you would often return another day to get even?
11. Have you ever lied to family members, friends, or others about how much you gamble or how much money you lost on gambling?
12. Has this happened three or more times?
13. Have you ever written a bad check or taken money that didn't belong to you from family members or anyone else in order to pay for your gambling?
14. Has your gambling ever caused serious or repeated problems in your relationships with any of your family members or friends?
15. Has your gambling ever caused you any problems in school, such as missing classes or days of school or your grades dropping?
16. Has your gambling ever caused you to lose a job, have trouble with your job, or miss out on an important job or career opportunity?
17. Have you ever needed to ask family members or anyone else to loan you money or otherwise bail you out of a desperate money situation that was largely caused by your gambling?