title: Barriers to Treatment for Female Problem Gamblers: A UK Perspective.
abstract: There is a paucity of research in the UK which examines problem gambling and that which does exist is mainly quantitative, focuses on male samples and fails to look at treatment seeking populations or obstacles preventing problem gamblers from seeking treatment. This paper presents findings from part of a larger qualitative study that explored the experience of treatment for female problem gamblers. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with eight women who had received individual cognitive-behavioural therapy in the National Health Service for their gambling problem. An interpretative phenomenological analysis approach was applied in the research process, identifying three main themes, of which the subtheme 'Barriers to Treatment' is examined here. Internal and external barriers to treatment organically emerged in all female participants' accounts and appear to have an impact on service utilisation. Input directly from gamblers can be combined with findings from other studies to devise better ways of reaching female problem gamblers. A better understanding of barriers to treatment can also provide valuable direction for future research and suggest applications in clinical service provision and treatment planning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, City University London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, UK. annaxgould@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1579-9455
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, City University London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, UK.
authors.forename: Jessica D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jones Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
authors.forename: Henrietta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bowden-Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020377:Self Efficacy; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Barriers; Cognitive-behavioural therapy; Female; Interpretative phenomenological analysis; Problem gambling; Treatment