Treatment outcomes are influenced by the duration of gambling disorder, gambling preference, and sex

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Author(s): Lucas, Ignacio ; Granero, Roser ; Fernández-Aranda, Fernando ; Solé-Morata, Neus ; Demetrovics, Zsolt ; Baenas, Isabel ; Gómez-Peña, Mónica ; Moragas, Laura ; Mora-Maltas, Bernat ; Lara-Huallipe, Milagros Lizbeth ; Jiménez-Murcia, Susana

Journal: Journal of Psychiatric Research

Year Published: 2023

Date Added: March 23, 2023

Gambling disorder (GD) is a behavioural addiction that can lead to negative outcomes. Factors such as the type of gambling and a person’s sex might influence the duration of GD. This study defined duration as the time between the onset of GD and beginning treatment. It examined how duration of GD is related to treatment outcomes (i.e., relapse and dropout). Participants were 1,699 patients who met the DSM-5 criteria for GD and sought outpatient cognitive-behavioural therapy in Spain. Participants who engaged in strategic gambling were more likely to have a poor treatment outcome in the first five years since GD onset than those who engaged in non-strategic or mixed forms of gambling. Women were also at higher risk of poor treatment outcomes than men in the first years after GD onset.

Citation: Lucas, I., Granero, R., Fernádez-Aranda, F., Solé-Morata, N., Demetrovics, Z., Baenas, I., Gómez-Peña, M., Moragas, L., Mora-Maltas, B., Lara-Huallipe, M. L., & Jiménez-Murcia, S. (2023). Gambling disorder duration and cognitive behavioural therapy outcome considering gambling preference and sex. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 158, 341–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.12.031

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.12.031

Keywords: gambling disorder ; patient dropouts ; relapse ; treatment outcomes

Topics: Gambling Resources ; Information for Treatment Providers ; Prevention

Conceptual Framework Factors: Gambling Types ; Cultural - Gender ; Cultural Factors ; Gambling Resources ; Resources - Interventions

Study Design: Observational: Cohort

Geographic Coverage: Spain, Barcelona

Study Population: People who voluntarily sought outpatient treatment for gambling disorder at Bellvitage University Hospital in Barcelona, Spain (n = 1699). On average, participants were 43 years old and began experiencing gambling disorder symptoms when they were 31 years. Most of the participants were male (86%).

Sampling Procedure: The researchers used data from 1699 participants who met the DSM-5 criteria for GD. These participants voluntarily sought outpatient treatment for GD at Bellvitage University Hospital in Spain. All participants completed a cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention programme between January 2005 and August 2020. The exclusion criteria included having an intellectual disability or a severe mental disorder (e.g., active psychotic disorder).

Study Funding:

This research was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, and the Delegación del Gobierno para el Plan Nacional sobre Drogas.