Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2026
08:05
A Prediction Error-driven Retrieval Procedure for Destabilizing and Rewriting Maladaptive Reward Memories in Hazardous Drinkers
Published on: January 5, 2018
Effectiveness of a Self Help Cognitive Behavioural Treatment Program for Problem Gamblers: A Randomised Controlled
T P S Oei1,2,3, N Raylu4, W W Lai5
1School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia. oei@psy.uq.edu.au.
Journal of Gambling Studies
|October 17, 2017
Summary
A self-help cognitive behavioral treatment (SHCBT) program significantly improved gambling behaviors and related psychological states in problem gamblers compared to a waitlist control group.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Problem gambling is a significant public health issue with limited accessible treatment options.
- Existing literature on self-help interventions for problem gambling requires further empirical support.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has shown promise in treating various behavioral disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a Self-Help Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (SHCBT) program for problem gambling.
- To compare the outcomes of SHCBT with a waitlist control condition.
- To investigate the impact of SHCBT on gambling behaviors and associated psychological factors.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial comparing SHCBT (n=23) with a 6-week waitlist condition (n=32).
- Participants were community volunteers experiencing gambling problems.
- Outcomes assessed included gambling frequency, amount gambled, problem gambling symptoms, psychological states, cognitions, urges, self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and quality of life.
Main Results:
- Participants completing the SHCBT program demonstrated significant post-treatment improvements in gambling behaviors and problem gambling symptoms.
- SHCBT also led to significant improvements in psychological states (depression, anxiety, stress), gambling cognitions, urges, self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and quality of life.
- Effect sizes (partial η² ) for significant outcomes ranged from .25 to .57, indicating substantial improvements.
Conclusions:
- A self-help CBT program is a beneficial and effective intervention for community-based problem gamblers.
- SHCBT offers a viable and accessible treatment option, addressing a gap in current therapeutic resources.
- The findings support the integration of self-help CBT approaches into broader problem gambling treatment strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
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...
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...