The importance of telepsychiatry in the treatment of pathological gambling during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Pathological gambling is a serious mental disorder and is the only behavioral addiction currently recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. Due to the increase in the frequency of disorders caused by gambling around the world, the need for treatment not only for pathological gamblers but also for their families has increased. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the social life of the world's population, and it has also been reflected through changes in the world of commercial gambling, changes in the characteristics of disorders caused by gambling as well as in the therapy of already diagnosed patients. Group family cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the therapies of choice in the pathology of pathological gambling. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in the provision of psychiatric services due to changes in working conditions, at a time of increased need for them. Telepsychiatry found its place in a given situation that adversely affected the mental health of the population around the world and thus opened up questions about the importance of its further application in the future.