Concordance between the SOGS-RA and the DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling among youth

This study assessed the possible differences in the classification of adolescent gamblers when using the South Oaks Gambling Screen-Revised for Adolescents (SOGS-RA; K. C. Winters, R. D. Stinchfield, & J. Fulkerson, 1993) versus a clinical interview that was based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria for pathological gambling. A total of 631 adolescents ages 15-17 years participated in the two phases of the study. Results revealed that of the 93 adolescents who had been screened as problem gamblers according to the SOGS-RA, only 7 could be clinically confirmed as pathological gamblers according to the criteria used at present to define pathological gambling. The need to clarify the construct of pathological gambling among youth is discussed.