Recovery from problem gambling without formal treatment

Abstract

Understanding the process by which problem gamblers recover without formal treatment may improve both formal treatments and assist those who wish to modify their gambling behavior without seeking treatment. Study 1 assessed the recovery process in problem gamblers who had recovered for at least 6 months without formal treatment from those who had recovered with the assistance of formal treatment. The treated recovered gamblers generally had a more severe gambling problem than did untreated recovered gamblers, as indicated by a long problem gambling career and more gamblingrelated negative consequences (e.g., family, health). Study 2 compared two samples of untreated gamblers, those who had recovered without treatment with a comparable sample of active gamblers who also had never received treatment. The active, untreated gamblers had higher lifetime rates of anxiety and personality disorder. Recovered gamblers may match the behaviorally conditioned problem gamblers as described in Blaszczynski's Pathways Model.

Recommendations for International Gambling Harm-Minimisation Guidelines: Comparison with Effective Public Health Policy

“…There is evidence for the effectiveness of brief interventions, including Internet-based treatment and self-help options, for other addictive behaviours including gambling (Blankers, Koeter, & Schippers, 2011;Dunn, Deroo, & Rivara, 2001;Gainsbury & Blaszczynski, 2011aHodgins, Currie, & el-Guebaly, 2001;Hodgins, Currie, el-Guebaly, & Peden, 2004;Miller & Rollnick, 1991;Toneatto et al, 2008). Brief interventions are cost-effective for gamblers and intervention service providers (Emshoff, Perkins, Zimmermans, Mooss, & Zorland, 2007), are effective at increasing motivation to change, and are convenient and timely to complete.…”

Online self-guided interventions for the treatment of problem gambling

“…Research suggests that moderate or mild problem gamblers are able to employ practical, problem-focused strategies and that such gamblers might benefit from the development of easily accessible intervention (Toneatto et al, 2008). Although the mechanisms for change remain unknown, extant research has demonstrated the benefits of self-help options (Dickerson, Hinchy, & England, 1990;Hodgins, Currie, & el-Guebaly, 2001).…”

Disordered Gambling: The Effects of a Brief, Online Cognitive Intervention in an Australian Sample

“…It is clear that online interventions have an important role in the treatment of addictions; which suggests that further research regarding the efficacy of online interventions specifically designed for disordered gamblers, may be beneficial. Research by Toneatto et al [32] indicates that individuals with mild to moderate gambling problems do not necessarily require formal interventions, suggesting that the development of online interventions may be particularly relevant to this population.…”