CBT treatment of problem gambling

Question 1

CBT =

Answer 1

an evidence-based treatment that focuses on how thoughts, emotions and behaviors are linked. It aims to help people understand and change their thoughts and behaviors to alleviate problems. CBT is the most effective treatment for gambling disorder.

Question 2

onderdelen van CBT voor GD

Answer 2

• psychoeducatie: educating patients on the nature and characteristics of pathological gambling, including raising awareness of cognitive distortions (gambler’s fallacy, illusion of control). After cognitive distortions have been identified, the therapist can help the client to modify them by highlighting the discrepancies between their beliefs and reality.
• functional analysis (identificeren van triggers en sustaining factors van het gokken)
• stimulus-control measures: avoiding trigger-stimuli (stimulus-control), and substitutiting gambling with healthy behaviours (stimulus-response prevention) in high risk situations
• relapse-prevention: develop skills to identify high-risk situations for relapse and provide strategies to deal with them

Question 3

evidence for cbt

Answer 3

Systematic reviews have shown that CBT reduced the amount of money lost and the severity of gambling and that it was highly effective in reducing problem gambling up to 24 months after therapy completion. CBT is effective in diverse populations (across age, gender, ethnicity, or psychiatric comorbidity) and in one-on-one formation, group settings, and self-directed online programs.