Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

A Preliminary Investigation of Abstinence and Controlled Gambling as Self-Selected Goals of Treatment for Female Pathological Gambling

  • Original paper
  • Published:
Journal of Gambling Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current study aimed to provide a preliminary evaluation of the differential efficacy of a cognitive-behavioural treatment program for female pathological gamblers delivered with the goals of abstinence or controlled gambling. The findings were based on the comparison of pathological gamblers selecting abstinence and pathological gamblers selecting controlled gambling on measures of gambling behaviour and psychological functioning. The findings revealed that pathological gamblers selecting controlled gambling displayed comparable levels of improvement to those displayed by gamblers selecting abstinence. Using a treatment completer approach, 89% of the gamblers selecting abstinence compared with 82% selecting controlled gambling no longer satisfied the diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling by the completion of the 6-month follow-up period. Although further scientific demonstration is required, the findings of this study provide preliminary support for the practice of offering controlled gambling as an alternative goal in the treatment of pathological gambling.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adamson, S. J., & Sellman, J. D. (2001). Drinking goal selection and treatment outcome in out-patients with mild-moderate alcohol dependence. Drug and Alcohol Review, 20, 351–359. doi:10.1080/09595230120092670.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ambrogne, J. A. (2002). Reduced-risk drinking as a treatment goal: What clinicians need to know. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 22, 45–53. doi:10.1016/S0740-5472(01)00210-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (rev. 4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

  • Barnes, L. L. B., Harp, D., & Jung, W. S. (2002). Reliability generalization of scores on the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 62, 603–618. doi:10.1177/0013164402062004005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. K. (1996). Beck depression inventory (2nd ed.). San Antonio: Harcourt Brace.

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth, P. G., Dale, B., & Ansari, J. (1984). Problem drinking goal choice and treatment outcome: A preliminary study. Addictive Behaviors, 9, 357–364. doi:10.1016/0306-4603(84)90035-2.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Booth, P. G., Dale, B., Slade, B. D., & Dewey, M. E. (1992). A follow-up study of problem drinkers offered a goal choice option. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 53, 594–600.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, W. M., Rosenberg, H., Hodgins, H. A., Macartney, J. I., & Maurer, K. A. (2004). United Kingdom and United States healthcare providers’ recommendations of abstinence versus controlled drinking. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 39, 130–134. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agh035.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crisp, B. R., Thomas, S. A., Jackson, A. C., Thomason, N., Smith, S., Borrell, J., et al. (2000). Sex differences in the treatment needs and outcomes of problem gamblers. Research on Social Work Practice, 10, 229–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickerson, M. (1989). Gambling: A dependence without a drug. International Review of Psychiatry, 1, 157–172. doi:10.3109/09540268909110392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickerson, M. (1990). Gambling: The psychology of a non-drug compulsion. Drug and Alcohol Review, 9, 187–199. doi:10.1080/09595239000185241.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dickerson, M. G. (1993). Internal and external determinants of persistent gambling: Problems in generalising from one form of gambling to another. Journal of Gambling Studies, 9, 225–245. doi:10.1007/BF01015920.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickerson, M., Hinchy, J., & Legg England, S. L. (1990). Minimal treatments and problem gamblers: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Gambling Studies, 6, 87–102. doi:10.1007/BF01015751.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickerson, M., McMillen, J., Hallebone, E., Volberg, R., & Woolley, R. (1997). Definition and incidence of problem gambling, including the socio-economic distribution of gamblers. Melbourne, Australia: Victorian Casino and Gaming Authority.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickerson, M. G., & Weeks, D. (1979). Controlled gambling as a therapeutic technique for compulsive gamblers. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 10, 139–141. doi:10.1016/0005-7916(79)90090-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowling, N. Client characteristics associated with treatment attrition and outcome in female pathological gambling. Addiction Research and Theory, in press.

  • Dowling, N., & Smith, D. (2007). Treatment goal selection by female pathological gamblers: A comparison of abstinence and controlled gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 23, 335–345. doi:10.1007/s10899-007-9064-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowling, N., Smith, D., & Thomas, T. (2006). Treatment of female pathological gambling: Efficacy of a cognitive-behavioural approach. Journal of Gambling Studies, 22, 355–372. doi:10.1007/s10899-006-9027-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dowling, N., Smith, D., & Thomas, T. (2007a). A comparison of individual and group cognitive-behavioral treatment for female pathological gambling. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45, 2192–2202. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2006.11.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dowling, N., Smith, D., & Thomas, T. (2007b). The family functioning of female pathological gamblers. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Available Online First.

  • Echeburúa, E., Báez, C., & Fernández-Montalvo, J. (1996). Comparative effectiveness of three therapeutic modalities in the psychological treatment of pathological gambling: Long-term outcome. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 24, 51–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • el-Guebaly, N. (2005). Are attempts at moderate drinking by patients with alcohol dependency a form of Russian roulette? Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 50, 266–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heather, N. (1995). The great controlled drinking consensus: Is it premature? Addiction, 90, 1160–1162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heather, N. (2006). Controlled drinking, harm reduction and their roles in the response to alcohol and related problems. Addiction Research and Theory, 14, 7–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgins, D. C., Leigh, G., Milne, R., & Gerrish, R. (1997). Drinking goal selection in behavioural self-management treatment of chronic alcoholics. Addictive Behaviors, 22, 247–255.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, A. C., Thomas, S. A., Thomason, N., Crisp, B. R., Smith, S., Ho, W., et al. (1997). Analysis of clients presenting to problem gambling services from july 1 1996 to june 30 1997: Client and services analysis report no. 2. Melbourne, Victoria: Victorian Department of Human Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, A. C., Thomason, N., Ryan, V., & Smith, S. (1996). Analysis of clients presenting to problem gambling services from july 1 1995 to june 30, 1996: Client and service analysis report no. 1. Melbourne, Victoria: Victorian Department of Human Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ladouceur, R. (2005). Controlled gambling for pathological gamblers. Journal of Gambling Studies, 21, 51–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ladouceur, R., Sylvain, C., Boutin, C., Lachance, S., Doucet, C., & Leblond, J. (2003). Group therapy for pathological gamblers: A cognitive approach. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 41, 587–596.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ladouceur, R., Sylvain, C., Boutin, C., Lachance, S., Doucet, C., Leblond, J., et al. (2001). Cognitive treatment of pathological gambling. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 189, 774–780.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • López Viets, V. C., & Miller, W. R. (1997). Treatment approaches for pathological gamblers. Clinical Psychology Review, 17, 689–702.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marlatt, G. M., Larimer, M. E., Baer, J. S., & Quigley, L. A. (1993). Harm reduction for alcohol problems: Moving beyond the controlled drinking controversy. Behavior Therapy, 24, 461–503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McConaghy, N., Armstrong, M. S., Blaszczynski, A., & Allcock, C. (1983). Controlled comparison of aversive therapy and imaginal desensitization in compulsive gambling. British Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 366–372.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McConaghy, N., Armstrong, M. S., Blaszczynski, A., & Allcock, C. (1988). Behavior completion versus stimulus control in compulsive gambling: Implications for behavioral assessment. Behavior Modification, 12, 371–384.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, W. R., Leckman, L., Delaney, H. D., & Tinkom, M. (1992). Long-term follow-up of behavioural self-control training. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 53, 249–261.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction. (2000). Current ‘best practice’ interventions for gambling problems: A theoretical and empirical review. Melbourne, Victoria: Victorian Government Department of Human Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oei, T. P., Evans, L., & Crook, G. M. (1990). Utility and validity of the STAI with anxiety disorder patients. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 29, 429–432.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ojehagen, A., & Berglund, M. (1989). Changes of drinking goals in a two-year out-patient alcoholic treatment program. Addictive Behaviors, 14, 1–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okun, A., Stein, R. E. R., Bauman, L. J., & Silver, E. J. (1996). Content validity of the psychiatric symptom index, CES-depression scale, and state-trait anxiety inventory from the perspective of DSM-IV. Psychological Reports, 79, 1059–1069.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Orford, J., & Keddie, A. (1986). Abstinence or controlled drinking in clinical practice: A test of dependence and persuasion hypothesis. British Journal of Addictions, 51, 495–504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Productivity Commission. (1999). Australia’s gambling industries: report no. 10. Canberra, Australia: AusInfo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rankin, H. (1982). Control rather than abstinence as a goal in the treatment of excessive gambling. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 20, 185–187.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robson, E., Edwards, J., Smith, G., & Colman, I. (2002). Gambling decisions: An early intervention program for problem gamblers. Journal of Gambling Studies, 18, 235–255.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosecrance, J. (1989). Controlled gambling: A promising future. In H. J. Shaffer, S. A. Stein, B. Gambino, & T. N. Cummings (Eds.), Compulsive gambling: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 147–160). Lexington, MA: Lexington Books/D.C. Health and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, H. (1993). Prediction of controlled drinking by alcoholics and problem drinkers. Psychological Bulletin, 113, 129–139.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez-Craig, M., & Lei, H. (1986). Disadvantages of imposing the goal of abstinence on problem drinkers: An empirical study. British Journal of Addiction, 81, 505–512.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sobell, M. B., & Sobell, L. C. (1995). Controlled drinking after 25 years: How important was the great debate. Addiction, 90, 1149–1153.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., Lushene, R., Vagg, P. R., & Jacobs, G. A. (1983). State-trait anxiety inventory for adults. Palo Alto, CA: Mind Garden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sylvain, C., Ladouceur, R., & Boisvert, J. M. (1997). Cognitive and behavioral treatment of pathological gambling: A controlled study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65, 727–732.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Volberg, R. A. (1996). Prevalence studies of problem gambling in the United States. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12, 111–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicki Dowling.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dowling, N., Smith, D. & Thomas, T. A Preliminary Investigation of Abstinence and Controlled Gambling as Self-Selected Goals of Treatment for Female Pathological Gambling. J Gambl Stud 25, 201–214 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-009-9116-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-009-9116-1

Keywords

Navigation