Recovery from problem gambling without formal treatment

Abstract

Understanding the process by which problem gamblers recover without formal treatment may improve both formal treatments and assist those who wish to modify their gambling behavior without seeking treatment. Study 1 assessed the recovery process in problem gamblers who had recovered for at least 6 months without formal treatment from those who had recovered with the assistance of formal treatment. The treated recovered gamblers generally had a more severe gambling problem than did untreated recovered gamblers, as indicated by a long problem gambling career and more gambling-related negative consequences (e.g., family, health). Study 2 compared two samples of untreated gamblers, those who had recovered without treatment with a comparable sample of active gamblers who also had never received treatment. The active, untreated gamblers had higher lifetime rates of anxiety and personality disorder. Recovered gamblers may match the behaviorally conditioned problem gamblers as described in Blaszczynski's Pathways Model.