title: Cognitive and behavioral treatment of pathological gambling: a controlled study.
abstract: This study evaluated the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral treatment package for pathological gambling. Twenty-nine men who met criteria for pathological gambling in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., revised; DSM-III-R; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) were randomly assigned to treatment or wait-list control. The treatment included 4 components: (a) cognitive correction of erroneous perceptions about gambling, (b) problem-solving training, (c) social skills training, and (d) relapse prevention. The dependent variables were the South Oaks Gambling Screen, perception of control, frequency of gambling, perceived self-efficacy, desire to gamble, and number of DSM-III-R criteria met by participants. Posttest results indicated highly significant changes in the treatment group on all outcome measures, and analysis of data from 6- and 12-month follow-ups revealed maintenance of therapeutic gains. Recommendations for clinical interventions are discussed and focus on the cognitive correction of erroneous perceptions of gambling.
authors.affiliation: Ecole de Psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sylvain
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ladouceur
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boisvert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010469:Perceptual Distortion; D016896:Treatment Outcome