Does Gambling-Focused Treatment Affect Mental Health and Quality of Life? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Session Title

Session 2-3-C: Problem Gambling Treatment Considerations

Presenters

Shelby KingFollow
David P. Forman, University of New Mexico
Meredith K. Ginley, East Tennessee State University
Samuel C. Peter, Durham VA Health Care SystemFollow
Nicholas W. McAfee, University of Mississippi Medical Center
James Whelan Ph.D, University of Memphis
Rory A. Pfund, University of Memphis

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

24-5-2023 1:30 PM

End Date

24-5-2023 3:00 PM

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology

Abstract

Abstract: Cognitive-behavioral (CB) techniques have received substantial empirical support for reducing gambling disorder symptoms and behavior. What has not been established is whether gambling-focused treatment reduces psychological problems and improves quality of life. Individuals experiencing gambling-related harms report that sustained recovery involves changing both gambling behaviors and psychological problems and building a meaningful life. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of CB techniques targeting gambling harms on nontargeted outcomes such as psychological problems and quality of life.

Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic article search was conducted to locate published studies of randomized controlled trials of CB techniques targeting gambling harms and reporting nontargeted outcomes. Random effects meta-analysis was used to quantify the effect of CB techniques on nontargeted outcomes. Ten studies representing 797 participants were included. Eight studies reported the effect of CB techniques on anxiety, 8 on depression, 3 on substance use, and 7 on quality of life. CB techniques significantly reduced anxiety (g = -0.44), depression (g = -0.35), gambling frequency (g = -0.30), and gambling intensity (g = -0.36) at posttreatment, but not substance use. CB techniques also significantly improved quality of life (g = 0.39) at posttreatment.

Implications: The targeted reduction of gambling harms may serve as a mechanism of change for reducing psychological problems and improving quality of life. Future studies should employ longitudinal designs to understand the associations between gambling reductions and changes in nontargeted recovery outcomes over time.

Keywords

treatment, cognitive-behavioral, psychological problems, quality of life

Author Bios

Shelby A. King, MS is a clinical psychology doctoral student at East Tennessee State University in the Prevention Education and Treatment of Addiction Learning Lab. Her research focuses on studying transdiagnostic risk factors underlying addiction and other risky health behaviors. Additionally, she is interested in intervention and treatment research and identifying mechanisms that improve clinical outcomes for individuals with addictions.

David P. Forman, MS, MSW is doctoral candidate in the Department of Psychology at the University of New Mexico and a predoctoral fellow at the Center on Alcohol, Substance Abuse, & Addictions. His research focuses on the process and dissemination of motivational interventions to improve outcomes in alcohol, substance use, and other behavioral domains.

Meredith K. Ginley, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at East Tennessee State University and a co-investigator at The Institute for Gambling Education and Research. Her research focuses on efforts to improve outcomes and retention in treatment for substance use disorders and behavioral addictions.

Samuel C. Peter, PhD is a Clinical Staff Psychologist working at the Durham VA Health Care System in Durham, NC. He graduated with his doctoral degree from the University of Memphis in 2021. His research has primarily focused on how to best engage and retain individuals experiencing trauma- and addictions-related concerns in helping services. He is an alumni of The Institute of Gambling Education and Research.

Nicholas W. McAfee, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and serves as the Director of the UMMC Student Counseling and Wellness Center. His research is primarily focused on interventions for addictions, including problem gambling, and training healthcare providers in evidenced-based practices to assess and treat addictive behaviors.

James P. Whelan, PhD is a University of Memphis Professor of Psychology and Director of The Institute for Gambling Education and Research. He leads the Institute’s initiative to develop a research center response for all living in the U.S. state of Tennessee – a project funded by Tennessee’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. His research spans prevention, assessment, and treatment of gambling disorder.

Rory A. Pfund, PhD is a Research Assistant Professor of Psychology and the Clinic and Research Director of The Institute of Gambling Education and Research at the University of Memphis. Dr. Pfund’s research focuses on understanding the effects of psychological treatments for gambling disorder. He is currently the co-investigator on a grant from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to develop a web-based portal to facilitate the initiation of gambling disorder treatment.

Funding Sources

This work was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health award number L30AA029551. This work was also supported by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The content is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the state of Tennessee.

Competing Interests

All authors declare no conflicts of interest.