A recent study into the impact of gambling disorder treatments found cognitive motivational behavior therapy (CMBT) is more effective than Gamblers Anonymous (GA).
Results of the innovative research, undertaken by a trio of researchers from Jackson State University, the University of Albany, and Yale School of Medicine, appeared in an advanced online publication in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.
Researchers pit CMBT against GA
For professionals engaged in gambling disorder treatment, retaining participants can be a challenge. The study notes that designing treatments to improve participants’ commitment to the problem would “contribute significantly to the existing gambling treatment efficacy literature.”
With that in mind, the research team set out to test the effectiveness of cognitive motivational behavior therapy. CMBT treatment addresses symptoms while anchoring participants throughout the gambling disorder treatment journey.
To that end, the team enrolled 46 individuals—all who met the criteria for gambling disorder—into one of two randomly assigned treatment programs. While half the subjects received 12 CMBT sessions, the others attended at least 12 Gamblers Anonymous meetings.
Cognitive Motivational Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive motivational behavioral therapy combines elements of traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with motivational techniques. The aim is to promote behavioral changes by addressing thought patterns and motivations. It’s particularly beneficial for the treatment of substance abuse and mental health issues where motivational barriers can be significant, like addictions, anxiety, and depression.
CMBT helps individuals identify and change unhelpful or harmful thought and behavior patterns, develop coping strategies, and increase motivation for positive change.
Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship based on the 12-step system, offering positive peer support and a structured environment for individuals experiencing compulsive gambling. The organized environment allows participants to share experiences, strength, and hope to recover from gambling addiction, and ultimately, stop gambling.
CMBT comes out on top
At the end of the study, participants who undertook CMBT had a 94% likelihood of completing treatment, with over 95% attending all sessions. And more than 91% continued through to the 6-month follow-up, surpassing their GA counterparts.
Further, overall, the individuals who underwent CMBT also gambled less money than the Gamblers Anonymous participants, even among the subgroup that had displayed low readiness for change.
In conclusion, the team said the results showed CMBT “as “more effective at retaining participants in treatment” and limiting money gambled compared to GA. For those not primed for change, unlike GA, CMBT also decreased the severity of an individual’s gambling problem.
As the paper abstract summarized:
Gambling disorder is associated with significant costs to society, including serious financial losses, bankruptcy, job loss, and many others; however, individuals with gambling disorder are notoriously difficult to engage and retain in psychological treatment. Results of this study show that cognitive motivational behavior therapy effectively engages individuals with gambling disorder in treatment, prevents premature dropout to a significantly larger degree, and reduces money lost gambling more than referral to Gamblers Anonymous.
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