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Treatment of pathological gamblers: an experimental study
A Bujold1, R Ladouceur, C Sylvain
1Ecole de Psychologie, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada.
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
|December 1, 1994
Summary
This study shows that a behavioral treatment, including cognitive interventions and relapse prevention, effectively stopped pathological gambling. Participants maintained these positive changes long-term, demonstrating treatment efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Pathological gambling is a significant behavioral disorder.
- Existing treatments require further investigation for long-term efficacy.
Observation:
- Three pathological gamblers meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition-Revised (DSM-III-R) criteria participated.
- An experimental multiple baseline design was employed to assess treatment effectiveness.
Findings:
- The behavioral treatment led to the cessation of all gambling behaviors.
- Participants reported increased self-control over gambling and perceived their problems as less severe.
- These therapeutic gains were sustained at 6- and 9-month follow-up assessments.
Implications:
- Problem-solving and cognitive restructuring are crucial components for treating pathological gambling.
- The findings support the long-term effectiveness of integrated behavioral interventions for gambling disorder.