title: The effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for pathological gambling: a country-wide study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinicians lack adequate data on the effectiveness of treatment for pathological gambling in low- and middle-income countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated a manualized treatment program that included components of cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and imaginal exposure in a sample of 128 participants diagnosed with pathological gambling. Our team recruited participants via the helpline of the National Responsible Gambling Program (NRGP) of South Africa between May 2011 and February 2012. Eligible participants, who met the DSM-IV-TR criteria for pathological gambling as assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for Pathological Gambling (SCI-PG), were referred to practitioners who had been trained in the intervention technique. We then compared pre- and post-treatment scores obtained on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Adapted for Pathological Gambling (PG-YBOCS), the primary outcome measure, and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), the secondary outcome measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scores obtained on the PG-YBOCS and the SDS both decreased significantly from the first to the final session (t[127] = 23.74, P < .001, r = .9; t[127] = 19.23, P < .001, r = .86, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The urges and disability symptoms related to pathological gambling were significantly reduced among participants completing treatment. These preliminary results hold promise for individuals with pathological gambling in South Africa and other low- and middle-income countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. E-mail: snchei002@myuct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Sonja C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pasche
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pretorius
authors.forename: Jon E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Dan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062405:Motivational Interviewing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013019:South Africa; D016896:Treatment Outcome