Longitudinal Assessment of a Manualized Group Treatment Program for Gambling Disorder: The Ohio Problem Gambling Treatment Model for Adults with Co-Occurring Disorders

Abstract

Individuals with gambling disorder (GD) experience a host of negative psychosocial and physical health outcomes, yet few seek treatment. Of particular concern are individuals with co-occurring mental and behavioral health disorders, a group at higher risk for GD in the state of Ohio. To better serve this population, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services developed a group-based GD treatment manual for adults with co-occurring disorders. Over the course of 5 years, 353 individuals engaged in at least some of the manual’s 12 weekly modules, and more than one-third (n = 122) completed the entire curriculum. Participants who completed all 12 modules completed pre-and post-tests, and after controlling for covariates, participants significantly decreased their GD symptom severity, though changes in self-esteem and gambling urges were non-significant. These findings suggest the treatment manual holds promise at reducing gambling behaviors for individuals with co-occurring disorders, but further research is warranted to explore best practices on how to intervene on the psychological antecedents to gambling in this population.

Gambling, tobacco use, and health among individuals in substance use disorder treatment

“…76 Manualized group therapy also yielded sustained reductions in gambling disorder severity among individuals with co-occurring substance and mental health disorders, although gambling urges were less responsive to treatment than behaviors. 77 Gambling urges may be addressed through concomitant pharmacotherapy, with most available evidence supporting the use of naltrexone and other opioid antagonists. 78 Study limitations include generalizability, given that treatment programs were residential and located in California.…”

“…A combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy reduced problem gambling behaviors among patients in SUD treatment 76 . Manualized group therapy also yielded sustained reductions in gambling disorder severity among individuals with co‐occurring substance and mental health disorders, although gambling urges were less responsive to treatment than behaviors 77 . Gambling urges may be addressed through concomitant pharmacotherapy, with most available evidence supporting the use of naltrexone and other opioid antagonists 78 …”