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Single-Session Exposure Therapy for Problem Gambling: A Single-Case Experimental Design

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2012

Barry Tolchard
Affiliation:
Essex University, United Kingdom.
Lyndall Thomas
Affiliation:
Tobacco Control Unit, Drug & Alcohol Services SA, South Australia, Australia.
Malcolm Battersby*
Affiliation:
Flinders University, Australia. Malcolm.battersby@flinders.edu.au
*
*Address for correspondence: Associate Professor Malcolm Battersby, F6 The Flats, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park SA 5042, Australia.
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Abstract

There is a paucity of treatment-outcome research for problem or pathological gambling. Single-session exposure therapy has been used successfully with a broad range of psychological disorders such as panic disorder and the phobias. This article will describe the use of single-session graded exposure to treat problem gambling with an Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) gambler. Pretreatment to 6-month follow-up repeated measures showed a significant reduction in client-rated gambling severity, that is, showed a significant reduction in client-rated gambling severity (Gambling Severity Checklist [GSCL]), the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). This case demonstrates a novel intervention which is brief, convenient and accessible to the client, and which resulted in gains maintained over the medium-term. This promising single case indicates the need for further research to determine whether positive benefits are realised in larger randomised control designs.

Type
Case Reports and Shorter Communications
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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