In Reply

We thank Köhler for his additions regarding the rehabilitation treatment of pathological gamblers, and we agree wholeheartedly with his suggestions. We are about to publish an article focusing on this subject in the near future.

In the context of a review article on pathological gambling, the aim is to include as many aspects as possible, from pathogenesis to epidemiology, screening measures, diagnostic evaluation, and comorbidity, to treatment services. Each of these topics therefore had to be dealt with in a brief paragraph.

One of our main objectives was to create awareness among doctors—an important prerequisite for patients being able to access treatment in the first place. We were therefore not able to expand on the issues raised to the extent that was suggested.

DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2012.0418b

Dr. med. Beate Erbas (MPH)
Bayerische Akademie für Sucht- und Gesundheitsfragen, München
erbas@bas-muenchen.de

Conflict of interest statement
The author declares that no conflict of interest exists.