Viorel LUPU *

Izabela Ramona LUPU * * * Associate Professor to the Department of Psychiatry

& Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

M.D., Ph. D. “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy

e-mail: violupu14@yahoo.com

* *Ph.D. Clinicial Psychologist and Psychotherapist „Iuliu Haţieganu” School

Cluj-Napoca

e-mail: ramonatodirita@yahoo.com

Romania

Motivation Theme’s actuality – accessibility and diversity

Children and adolescents are at risk

Devastating consequences

Lack of studies in the field

Study description

PARTICIPANTS:

N = 2006

48.3% male

11-19 years

mean age 15.04±2.33 years

21.2% rural

Frequency of

participants Percentage

Nord-East 858 42.8

South-East 558 27.8

South 254 12.7

South-West 26 1.3

North-West 87 4.3

Center 24 1.2

Bucharest 199 9.9

Total 2006 100.0

No. classes Urban Rural Total

V-VIII 22 22 44

IX-XIII 41 4 45

Total 63 26 89

INSTRUMENTS:

SOGS-RA - adapted and validated for Romanian population.

20 GA-RA - based on the items of 20-GA, adapted and validated for Romanian children and adolescents, 11-19 years old.

Demographical data – questions regarding

Predisposing factors

Involvement in other behaviors at risk

Types of games practiced

Perception of control while gambling

Study description

Results 16.08% from pathological gamblers gambled for the

first time at 11 years.

The mean age of problem or pathological

gamblers was 16.98 years.

Analyzed

dimension

SOGS-RA 20 GA-RA

Gamblers - 4.0% (81) problem or

pathological gambling

- 91.4% males

- 7.1% (142) gamblers at

risk

- 2.6% (53)

pathological

gambling

- 90.4% male

- 10.1% (203)

problem gambling

Preferred games 1. Scratched tickets/Slot machines – 23.2%

2. Choosing a ticket– 22.9%

3. Dices on money – 19.5%

Results

Way of playing Individual - 31.2%

In group – 68.8%

Academic results of

pathological gamblers

Mean academic results

7.48±1.10 (10 is maximum)

Pathological gambling

absenteeism

32.1% declare that absenteeism

influences their scholar evolution

Family income – pathological

gamblers

Average and above average income -

52.8%

Perception of control of those

who gamble

They can control the outcome of the

game - 55%

Mean age of the first gambling

session of all participants

13.56±2.55 years

Results

Results – other behaviors at risk

Male Female Total

Alcohol 38.5% 20.9% 29.4%

“Legal drugs” 6.6% 3.2% 4.8%

Illegal drugs 7.6% 4.4% 6.0%

Tobacco 20.5% 14.3% 17.3%

Gambling 49.3% 16.9% 32.6%

Conclusions The phenomenon’s amplitude

The first national prevalence study in Romania

Confirmation of comorbidities

Primary prevention programs urge

Conclusions The present study investigated children and

adolescents 11-19 years old from schools all over Romania, a sample which permits the generalization of the data obtained.

We followed the rules to make a national prevalence study and we collected the data with a group of volunteers of Romanian Association for the Study of Gambling -psychologists and doctors.

Future direction .

We should consider primary prevention programs for all population above 11 years because the age of onset was this age.

Limits of the present study We can state that the questionnaire was self reported

and data can be biased as gamblers usually lie about their gambling.

The sample considered only the scholar population. The observation confirmed that children

and adolescents who do not go to school game a lot. Pathological gamblers usually are expelled or they renounce to school

The sample distribution given by experts in sociology was pretty much unequal.

Our research team Andrecuţ Cosmina Daniela – psychologist

Avram Oana Elisabeta – psychiatrist

Bancoş Florin -psychologist

David Luminiţa Daniela – psychiatrist

Dinca Laurenţiu – psychologist

Florea Remus Adrian – psychiatrist

Leşiu Ioana Florina– psychologist

Macsim Gabriela – psychiatrist

Meşenschi Lucreţia Ioana – psychologist

Mikola Ana Meliana – psychologist

Our research team Moraru Marcel – psychologist

Mureşan Raluca – psychologist

Nichita Aniko - psychologist

Niţă Carmina – psychologist

Nuţ Andreea Mădălina – psychologist

Orosz (Neacşu) Adela - psychologist

Paraschiv Mihaela – psychiatrist

Pleşan Nicoleta - psychologist

Popa Camelia Ştefania – psychologist

Our research team Puşcaş Cristian – psychiatrist

Roşu Bogdan – psychologist

Rotar Camelia – psychologist

Sandu Adrian – psychologist

Sucea Adelina - psychologist

Tătuţ Narcisa – psychologist

Toma Roxana Elena– psychiatrist

Vălenaş Sergiu Paul – psychologist

Mircea Comşa-sociologist

Izabela Ramona Lupu-psychologist&Viorel Lupu-psychiatrist

Thank you!