Mindfulness and Problem Gambling: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

This article reviews the literature with respect to mindfulness and its potential for reducing the severity of problem gambling behaviour. Interest in the role of mindfulness as a treatment for problem gambling has gained the attention of researchers across Australia, the United States, and Canada. However, the literature is limited and current studies have severe methodological limitations. Despite this issue, investigations have revealed that dispositional mindfulness is related to less severe problem gambling outcomes and that psychological distress, overconfidence and risk willingness, myopic focus on reward and ego involvement may act as mediators in this relationship. Moreover, the literature indicates that the inverse relationship between dispositional mindfulness and psychological distress may be mediated by factors such as values clarification; emotional, cognitive, and behavioural flexibility; non-attachment; emotion dysregulation/distress intolerance; thought suppression; and rumination. This article discusses the theoretical and clinical implications of these relationships with respect to mindfulness-based interventions for problem gambling. It is recommended that the approach be considered with cautious optimism.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) for the Treatment of Co-occurring Schizophrenia and Pathological Gambling: A Case Study

“…Preliminary findings indicate that third-wave CBT approaches may be effective treatments for problem/pathological gambling (see reviews by: de Lisle, Dowling, & Allen, 2011;Shonin, Van Gordon, & Griffiths, 2013a). However, the case for utilizing third-wave techniques as schizophrenia interventions is less clear.…”

Mindfulness and problem gambling treatment

“…In recent years there has been a growing literature on the relationship between mindfulness and problem gambling (see de Lisle et al 2012;Shonin et al 2013b). According to de Lisle et al (2012) the literature indicates that there is an inverse relationship between dispositional mindfulness and psychological distress, and this may be mediated by a number of factors including emotional, cognitive, and behavioural flexibility.…”

“…According to de Lisle et al (2012) the literature indicates that there is an inverse relationship between dispositional mindfulness and psychological distress, and this may be mediated by a number of factors including emotional, cognitive, and behavioural flexibility. For example, Lakey et al (2007) found a significant negative correlation between gambling problems and mindfulness amongst undergraduate students.…”

“…De Lisle et al (2012) reviewed the evidence for a number of different mechanisms that may be involved in mindfulness including dealing with issues such as a myopic focus on reward, psychological distress, rumination, thought suppression, and improving emotional, cognitive, and behavioural flexibility. De Lisle et al (2012) note that the relationship between "mindfulness and problem gambling behaviour is likely to be very complex" (p. 731) because mindfulness is itself a complex construct. They also discuss a number of theoretical models of how mindfulness may be related to problem gambling.…”

“…Two case studies have been published that describe the use of mindfulness (see de Lisle et al, 2012), and in both cases, mindfulness was successful in helping the client towards recovery. In addition, two studies have examined the efficacy of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) which includes mindfulness as a component of the treatment.…”