This study examined the effectiveness of cognitive motivational behaviour therapy (CMBT) in treating gambling disorder symptoms. The researchers recruited 46 patients seeking help for problem gambling at an outpatient treatment center in the United States. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 12 sessions of CMBT or 12 sessions of weekly Gamblers Anonymous meetings. The findings showed that participants in the CMBT group were more likely to complete treatment. They spent less money on gambling over the course of the study. Both the CMBT and GA groups gambled fewer days and reported fewer gambling disorder symptoms at the end of the study. The CMBT group reduced their gambling spending and frequency regardless of their level of motivation to change. But among the GA group, only those with moderate to high motivation to change attended more GA meetings and reduced their gambling behaviour.
