the general population (3% and 11% respectively). These findings are also largely consistent with those from Canada: Kennedy et al reported a prevalence of 12% for at least moderate risk of problem gambling in individuals with bipolar disorder,10 and Quilty et al reported a prevalence of 3% for severe risk and 10% for moderate risk of problem gambling in bipolar disorder.20 Similarly, we found the prevalence of severe or moderate risk of problem gambling in participants with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder was elevated relative to figures for the general population (severe 0.9%, at least moderate 5.2%). However, this increase was not statistically significant, reflecting the relatively small sample size of patients with depression. Collectively, these data confirm the relatively strong associations between bipolar disorder and gambling problems, suggesting that the characteristic mood disturbance of bipolar disorder can have a powerful role in the development and maintenance of gambling problems.
