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Cognitive treatment of pathological gamblers
R Ladouceur1, C Sylvain, H Letarte
1Ecole de Psychologie, Université Laval, Ste-Foy, Que., Canada. robert.ladouceur@psy.ulaval.ca
Behaviour Research and Therapy
|September 24, 1998
Summary
Cognitive therapy effectively treated pathological gambling by correcting randomness misconceptions. Most participants reduced gambling urges and regained control, maintaining results long-term.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Pathological gambling is a significant mental health issue with limited effective treatments.
- Cognitive distortions, particularly regarding randomness, are implicated in gambling behavior.
Observation:
- A multiple baseline across subjects design was used to evaluate cognitive treatment efficacy.
- The intervention specifically targeted erroneous perceptions of randomness in pathological gamblers.
Findings:
- Four out of five participants showed clinically significant reductions in gambling urges.
- Participants reported increased perception of control and no longer met DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling.
- Treatment gains were sustained at a 6-month follow-up.
Implications:
- Cognitive therapy addressing randomness misconceptions offers a promising approach for pathological gambling.
- This intervention may be effective for a disorder often resistant to other treatments.
- Further research can explore broader applications of this cognitive strategy.