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A randomized trial of brief interventions for problem and pathological gamblers
Nancy M Petry1, Jeremiah Weinstock, David M Ledgerwood
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030-3944, USA. petry@psychiatry.uchc.edu
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|April 2, 2008
Summary
A brief 10-minute intervention significantly reduced problem gambling behaviors at 6 weeks and 9 months. This finding offers hope for effective, accessible gambling addiction treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Problem gambling is a significant public health issue with limited research on effective reduction methods.
- Existing treatments may not be accessible to all individuals experiencing gambling problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of brief interventions for reducing problem gambling.
- To compare the effectiveness of brief advice, motivational enhancement therapy (MET), and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in reducing gambling.
Main Methods:
- 180 problem gamblers were randomly assigned to four groups: assessment only, 10-minute brief advice, one session of MET, or one session of MET plus three sessions of CBT.
- Gambling behavior was assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 9 months.
Main Results:
- Brief advice significantly decreased gambling from baseline to 6 weeks and showed clinically significant reductions at 9 months.
- Motivational enhancement therapy plus cognitive-behavioral therapy showed significant gambling reduction between 6 weeks and 9 months compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
- A very brief intervention (10-minute advice) is effective in reducing problem gambling for individuals not actively seeking treatment.
- These findings highlight the potential of brief, accessible interventions for gambling addiction management.
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