title: Imaginal desensitisation plus motivational interviewing for pathological gambling: randomised controlled trial.
abstract: Sixty-eight individuals were randomised to either six sessions of imaginal desensitisation plus motivational interviewing (IDMI) or Gamblers Anonymous. Individuals assigned to IDMI had significantly greater reductions in Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Modified for Pathological Gambling total scores, gambling urges and gambling behaviour. People who failed to respond to Gamblers Anonymous reported significantly greater reduction in pathological gambling symptoms following later assignment to IDMI. Abstinence was achieved by 63.6% during the acute IDMI treatment period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. grant045@umn.edu
authors.forename: Jon E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Donahue
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Odlaug
authors.forename: Suck Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Petry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D009042:Motivation; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult