A 6-month follow-up of imaginal desensitization plus motivational interviewing in the treatment of pathological gambling.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pathological gambling (PG), a disabling disorder experienced by approximately 1% of adults, has few empirically validated treatments. A recent study demonstrated that 6 sessions of imaginal desensitization plus motivational interviewing (IDMI) was effective in achieving abstinence for a majority of individuals with PG. This study sought to examine whether those benefits were maintained 6 months post-treatment.

Methods

Sixty-eight individuals who met DSM-IV criteria for PG were randomly assigned to 6 sessions of IDMI or Gamblers Anonymous (GA) referral over an 8-week period. Participants who failed to respond to GA were offered IDMI after the 8-week acute treatment period. All individuals who responded to IDMI were contacted after 6 months and assessed with measure

SUBMITTER: Grant JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3465840 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature