Open AccessRecord of successful sertraline treatment of a pathological gambler
Author(s) -
Srdjan Milovanović,
Ljubica Leposavić,
Jasmina Barišić,
G. Nikolić-Balkoski
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.135
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 2406-0895
pISSN - 0370-8179
DOI - 10.2298/sarh0602060m
Subject(s) - medicine , sertraline , pathological , clomipramine , impulse (physics) , outpatient clinic , psychiatry , pediatrics , psychotherapist , psychology , anxiety , physics , quantum mechanics , antidepressant
This is a case report of 26-year old, advanced university student of the Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics, single. He has never been a psychiatric patient, but being unable to suppress the gambling impulse, he presented for treatment, on his own initiative, to the outpatient department. Patient met the criteria for diagnosis of pathological gambler, over the period of two years (International Classification of Diseases -ICD X, WHO, 1992). Various phases of the treatment as well as the applied protocols were presented. Initially, therapy was initiated by clomipramine, and abandoned because of adverse effects. During presentation of this case, positive therapeutic response was noted to mono therapy with sertraline in the period of six months, and a total remission was achieved. Progression of the applied therapy was presented in four phases. Observations of the patient concerning the control over impulse disorder were described in his own words. Data on neurobiological concepts as well as phychopharmaceuticals which, according to our knowledge so far, have been used in therapy of pathological gambling were discussed in our study.