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Does providing extended relapse prevention bibliotherapy to problem gamblers improve outcome?
David C Hodgins1, Shawn R Currie, Nady el-Guebaly
1Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada. dhodgins@ucalgary.ca
Journal of Gambling Studies
|December 28, 2006
Summary
High relapse rates in pathological gambling are a concern. A single relapse prevention booklet may be as effective as repeated mailings for individuals attempting to quit gambling.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Pathological gambling relapse rates are high, with up to 75% of individuals returning to gambling after quitting.
- Effective, accessible relapse prevention strategies are crucial for problem gamblers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a low-cost, accessible relapse prevention program using bibliotherapy for pathological gamblers.
- To compare the impact of a single mailing versus repeated mailings of relapse prevention booklets.
Main Methods:
- 169 individuals who recently quit gambling were recruited and randomly assigned to either a single mailing (one summary booklet) or repeated mailing (summary booklet plus 7 additional booklets over a year) condition.
- Gambling involvement over a 12-month follow-up was assessed and confirmed by family or friends.
- Outcomes included meeting cessation goals, gambling frequency, and financial losses.
Main Results:
- Participants receiving repeated mailings were more likely to achieve their goal of quitting gambling.
- However, there was no significant difference in gambling frequency or financial losses between the single and repeated mailing groups.
- The study suggests extended bibliotherapy did not improve overall gambling outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Providing a single, comprehensive relapse prevention booklet may be a cost-effective and accessible option for individuals quitting gambling.
- Extended bibliotherapy through repeated mailings did not demonstrate superior outcomes compared to a single mailing.
- The overview booklet shows promise as a low-cost intervention for problem gamblers.
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