Speakers - 2026

Title: Risky Business: A Case of Cryptocurrency Investing Resembling Gambling Disorder

Abstract

Per DSM-5, gambling is defined as a pattern of chronic, maladaptive wagering.

This case report of a 40 year old male who was involuntarily psychiatrically hospitalized after voicing suicidal threats due to severe financial losses from cryptocurrency investing causing his wife to file for divorce illustrates how his pattern of maladaptive cryptocurrency investing meets DSM-5 criteria for gambling disorder. This patient’s cryptocurrency investing meets DSM-5 gambling disorder criteria, given clinically significant impairment and distress from numerous cryptocurrency investments causing marital strife, investing increasing amounts of money, irritability stopping, preoccupation with cryptocurrency, “chasing” his losses the next day, cryptocurrency investing when feeling distressed, lying to conceal the extent of money spent, and relying on others to provide money to relieve his desperate financial circumstances caused by cryptocurrency investments.                                                                                                                                                                                               

Proper identification of cryptocurrency trading under the umbrella of gambling disorders is crucial for proper treatment.

What will the audience take away from presentation?

1. An understanding of how cryptocurrency investing can fall under the umbrella of gambling disorder, alongside online poker and sports betting
2. The DSM-V must be expanded to include how new technologies can manifest in certain behavioral addictions
3. A thorough addiction history must include behavioral addictions, including technological addictions