Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
06:01
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Online Gamers
Published on: November 9, 2019
8.7K
Gamblers Anonymous as a Recovery Pathway: A Scoping Review
Andrée Schuler1, Peter Ferentzy2, Nigel E Turner2
1Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Journal of Gambling Studies
|April 5, 2016
Summary
Gamblers Anonymous (GA) effectiveness for problem gambling recovery is inconsistently supported by current research. More rigorous studies are needed to understand GA's impact and recovery culture.
Area of Science:
- Addiction research
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a prevalent mutual aid organization for problem gambling.
- Limited research exists on the effectiveness of GA as a recovery approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review of the evidence base for GA's effectiveness in problem gambling recovery.
- To identify key aspects of GA's recovery culture.
Main Methods:
- Scoping review of literature published between 2002 and 2015.
- Searched 13 databases and relevant organizational websites.
- Assessed methodological quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
Main Results:
- 17 studies (25 publications) were included, mostly cross-sectional from the US.
- Evidence for GA's effectiveness, alone or with other treatments, is inconsistent.
- GA's recovery culture emphasizes patience, acceptance, and self-identity as a "compulsive gambler".
Conclusions:
- There is a need for large-scale randomized controlled trials to assess GA's effectiveness.
- Further research should explore GA's mechanisms, barriers, and the experiences of women within the fellowship.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
709
Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
709
01:27Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
1.6K
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) serves as the primary classification system for mental health disorders, providing standardized diagnostic criteria for clinicians and researchers. First published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1952, the DSM has undergone several revisions to reflect evolving psychiatric understanding. The fifth edition, DSM-5, released in 2013, introduced key updates that expanded diagnostic categories and modified diagnostic...
1.6K
01:17Classification of Illness
9.3K
The meaning of illness is individualized to each person who experiences an alteration in health. In contrast, disease is a medical term indicating a pathological change in the structure and function of the body or mind. It is a condition that has specific symptoms and boundaries.
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe...
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe...
9.3K
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
659
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
659
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
1.4K
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not...
1.4K
01:24Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
894
Treatment approaches for psychological disorders fall into three main categories: psychological, biological, and sociocultural. Each approach targets different aspects of mental health, requiring varying levels of education and training.
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
894