Therapeutic approaches for pathological gamblers with psychiatric comorbidities – a literature review

Abstract

Research has shown that gambling disorders often coexist with other mental disorders, with worse treatment outcomes in the affected patients than those with a single disorder. This population is also characterised by higher hospitalisation rates, non- compliance and poor response to pharmacotherapy. The aim of this review was to identify, describe and analyse therapeutic approaches used for pathological gamblers with other mental health issues. The EBSCOhost database was used for literature review. Combinations of key phrases referring to gambling disorders and the most frequently identified mental comorbidities were used for the search. The review showed that therapeutic guidelines for gamblers with mental comorbidities are missing. According to previous studies, the cognitive-behavioural approach in individual and group therapy seems to be an effective strategy for gambling disorders overlapping with other psychiatric comorbidities. Motivational interviewing and desensitisation with exposure to stimuli have also been shown to be effective. Pharmacotherapy is an indispensable component of treatment. Therapy via the Internet, which may be particularly attractive for those reluctant to opt for individual or group therapy, is an alternative to traditional sessions. It is necessary to develop treatment guidelines for patients with gambling disorders co-occurring with other mental conditions to provide support for practitioners working with these patients.