An examination of cognitive behavioural group therapy for problem gamblers who gamble over the internet: a controlled study

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Date
2015-08-05Author
Harris, Nicholas M.
Subject
Gambling participation and problem gamblingDevelopment of problem gambling
Correlates of problem gambling
Psychological comorbidity and problem gambling
Seeking treatment and treatment dropout among problem gamblers
Problem gambling treatments
Cognitive behavioural group therapy for problem gambling
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Show full item recordAbstract
The purpose of the present study was twofold: first, to examine the efficacy of group CBT for
self-identified problem Internet gamblers and second, to qualitatively examine participants’
perspectives on their treatment experiences, especially in relation to decreasing Internet problem
gambling. Thirty-two self-identified problem Internet gamblers were randomly assigned to either
the treatment group (n = 16) or wait-list control group (n = 16). Results indicated that the
treatment was efficacious in improving three of the four dependent variables from pre- to posttest/
treatment: number of DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling endorsed, perception of
control over gambling, and number of sessions gambled. No significant pre- to posttest/
treatment difference was found between groups on desire to gamble. Groups were combined
to examine treatment outcome over time, with results showing significant pre- to post-treatment
and pre- to three-month post-treatment improvement in all four dependent variables. For the
qualitative component of this study, thematic analysis was used to identify themes in the data.
Five themes related to participants’ treatment experiences, experiences in trying to decrease their
problem gambling behaviours over the Internet, and how Internet gambling may influence the
treatment of problem gambling behaviours were identified. Limitations of the study, along with
implications for future research are discussed.
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