Depression

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common conditions co-occurring with gambling disorder, present in nearly 30% of people seeking treatment. Gambling can serve as a way to feel excitement, hope, a temporary lift when depression has flattened everything else. As the disorder progresses and losses mount, depression typically deepens, creating a cycle that becomes increasingly difficult to break alone. Research suggests that in many cases the mental illness preceded the gambling, with people turning to gambling to relieve depression or boredom which means treating the addiction without treating the depression leaves the original driver untouched.