Abstract
It has been estimated that 80% of Australians engage in some form of gambling, with approximately 115,000 Australians experiencing
severe problems (Productivity Commission 2010). Very few people with problem gambling seek help and, of those who do, large numbers drop-out of therapy before completing
their program. To gain insights into these problems, participants who had either completed or withdrawn prematurely from an
individual CBT-based problem gambling treatment program were interviewed to examine factors predictive of premature withdrawal
from therapy as well as people’s ‘readiness’ for change. The results indicated that there might be some early indicators of
risk for early withdrawal. These included: gambling for pleasure or social interaction; non-compliance with homework tasks;
gambling as a strategy to avoid personal issues or dysphoric mood; high levels of guilt and shame; and a lack of readiness
for change. The study further showed that application of the term ‘drop-out’ to some clients may be an unnecessarily negative
label in that a number appear to have been able to reduce their gambling urges even after a short exposure to therapy.
severe problems (Productivity Commission 2010). Very few people with problem gambling seek help and, of those who do, large numbers drop-out of therapy before completing
their program. To gain insights into these problems, participants who had either completed or withdrawn prematurely from an
individual CBT-based problem gambling treatment program were interviewed to examine factors predictive of premature withdrawal
from therapy as well as people’s ‘readiness’ for change. The results indicated that there might be some early indicators of
risk for early withdrawal. These included: gambling for pleasure or social interaction; non-compliance with homework tasks;
gambling as a strategy to avoid personal issues or dysphoric mood; high levels of guilt and shame; and a lack of readiness
for change. The study further showed that application of the term ‘drop-out’ to some clients may be an unnecessarily negative
label in that a number appear to have been able to reduce their gambling urges even after a short exposure to therapy.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-20
- DOI 10.1007/s10899-011-9257-x
- Authors
- Kirsten Dunn, School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Paul Delfabbro, School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Peter Harvey, State-wide Gambling Therapy Service, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
- Journal Journal of Gambling Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-3602
- Print ISSN 1050-5350