The Role of Social Support and Belonging in Predicting Recovery from Problem Gambling Journal of Gambling Studies

Involving a family member reinforces the gambler’s understanding of their issues and enhances commitment to change. Currently, there is no drug approved for GD, although clinical practice guidelines usually have a section on the use of psychopharmacology in the disorder. For instance, the guideline for GD published in 2011 in Australia66 accepted that naltrexone could be employed to reduce gambling severity in people with gambling problems. Gambling addiction is complex and deeply rooted in both psychological and social factors. It’s important to remember that it is not about a lack of willpower or character flaws—it’s an illness that requires understanding and treatment. GAMSTOP is an excellent free tool that allows individuals to voluntarily ban themselves from casinos or online gambling platforms.

A number of approaches are currently used to reduce the severity and frequency of gambling, with the aim of reducing the harms that gambling causes. These range from self-help interventions and peer support groups to higher intensity https://lav-hjemmeside.dk/udenlandske-online-casino pharmacological and psychological treatments within specialist gambling treatment settings. In addition to CBT, other therapeutic modalities such as Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) also play significant roles in gambling addiction recovery. MI focuses on enhancing an individual’s motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. This approach is particularly effective for those who may be uncertain about their desire to quit gambling. By tapping into their intrinsic motivations and values, individuals can find the internal drive needed to commit to recovery.

• The Gambling Commission completed the development of new survey questions on the consequences of gambling and gambling harms on people who gamble, and people who are affected by someone else’s gambling.
• Other drugs modulating the glutamatergic pathway, such as topiramate, have yielded controversial results while N-acetylcysteine has shown positive results but only in a pilot study.
• When individuals come together in a support group, they find themselves surrounded by others who have faced similar challenges.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) effectively addresses gambling addiction by correcting cognitive distortions, enhancing problem-solving skills, and creating relapse prevention strategies.
• Supplements such as self-help books and workbooks recommended by these groups can further aid individuals in their journey to recovery.

Research indicates that combining exposure therapy with other therapeutic strategies can lead to significant improvements in gambling behavior. Techniques like imaginal desensitization, which involves guiding a person through visualized scenarios related to gambling, can effectively reduce gambling urges when combined with relapse prevention. Because all members of Gamblers Anonymous share the same condition, meetings represent an opportunity to share experiences and challenges in an empathetic and non-judgemental environment. Listening to others talk about their journey through recovery can help compulsive gamblers feel less alone. By definition, pathological gamblers have altered views on money and what money represents to them. Any form of psychotherapy with pathological gamblers requires a discussion about money.

A thorough meta-analysis concluded that opiate antagonists demonstrated a small but significant benefit compared with placebo70. A more recent review11 of the use of opioid antagonists on behavioral addictions concluded that both naltrexone and nalmefene were the only evidence-based pharmacological treatments for GD. Gambling disorder (GD) is a psychiatric condition featuring recurrent, maladaptive gambling behavior that leads to clinically significant distress. GD was reclassified recently into the “Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders” group of theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)1, a first for a behavioral addiction. The recategorization of GD was essentially due to the similarities between this clinical condition and substance use disorders. Numerous studies find analogous characteristics between the two in reference to diagnostic criteria, symptomatology, genetic vulnerabilities, high rates of comorbidity, and their association with biological markers and cognitive deficits2,3.

Knowing that they will be sharing their progress with the group can motivate members to remain focused and diligent in their efforts to overcome addiction. This accountability can be a powerful deterrent against relapse, as individuals are reminded of the support and encouragement they have from their peers. Overcoming a gambling problem is never easy but treatment options are available, and recovery is possible. Each person is unique, so it is important to find a path for treatment fit to your specific needs. There isn’t just one “best” way to treat problem gambling – often, a mix of approaches are used during treatment.

Moreover, the review focused exclusively on UK-based treatment literature, as the primary objective was to explore this area for the first time, particularly in developing the NICE guidelines for harmful gambling treatment. Consequently, it excluded studies from countries with different policy and legislative frameworks on gambling treatment. A recent paper (Seel et al., 2024) undertook a systematic analysis to identify which studies have been conducted for individuals seeking treatment in the UK. The authors examined the settings, research designs, outcome measures used to assess gambling treatments, and gaps in the research. The authors used a robust methodology, including searching key databases and publications involving research into gambling treatment conducted in the UK.

Psychological interventions for gambling that harms

To provide a description of the data and for ease of comparison, each of the scales were recoded into “low”, “medium” and “high”. The majority of participants showed high social support, high belonging, high quality of life and low gambling urges. Social support was also found to consistently mediate the effect of AA on abstinence, which suggests that the mechanism underpinning AA is social support.

She managed to keep it a secret from her friends and family for years, but things really escalated when she started gambling online at all times of day – even at work. Contact us today, and we will be able to provide you with the necessary knowledge and guidance to start your gambling rehab programme. Remember, seeking help is an important step towards recovery, and we encourage you to take that step today. Amid casinos’ glamour lies a darker reality— a world of addiction, deceit, and desperation.

Real stories of people recovery from gambling harm

We should do this whenever we would be asking about smoking, alcohol consumption or substance use, for example during health checks or when people register with a GP. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, person-centered approach used to strengthen an individual’s motivation and commitment to change. Proven to significantly reduce problem gambling severity and psychological distress, MI techniques help participants explore their doubts about quitting gambling and enhance their readiness to change. For example, they did not conduct a risk of bias assessment, as this is not typically part of standard practice for scoping reviews aimed at mapping evidence.

You only need to give your first name and members are not permitted to share what has been said at the meetings. Most meetings will have a designated person who is responsible for welcoming new members. This person will give you a brief explanation of the structure of the meeting and answer any questions you might have. Individual members may need to spend longer working on one particular step that is difficult for them.

This bond is essential as it provides a safe space for individuals to explore the underlying issues that contribute to their addiction, such as emotional distress, trauma, or co-occurring mental health disorders. Another crucial aspect of therapy in gambling addiction recovery is the development of practical skills and strategies to manage triggers and prevent relapse. Therapists work with individuals to identify specific triggers that may lead to gambling behaviors, such as certain social situations, emotional states, or environmental cues. By recognizing these triggers, individuals can develop personalized strategies to avoid or cope with them effectively. This proactive approach can significantly reduce the risk of relapse and support long-term recovery.

Dr. Alex Richardson, a renowned psychologist specializing in addictive behaviors, lends his expertise to this discussion. This group is intended for anyone new to the Gambling Therapy website or new to groups… or both. You will be made welcome by an experienced facilitator and offered emotional support and practical tips as you explore the website. Gambling Therapy groups are run by experienced facilitators – either peer support workers who have faced gambling issues in their own lives, or by trained psychologists and therapists. Are you looking for advice, support and information from people who have been free from gambling for many years?

By fostering a sense of community and belonging, support groups empower individuals to reclaim their lives from the clutches of addiction and embark on a journey towards healing and self-discovery. In this shared journey, the impact of peer support is profound, reminding us all of the strength that can be found in unity and understanding. Therapy plays a crucial role in gambling addiction recovery by providing individuals with the tools and strategies needed to understand and manage their addictive behaviors. It helps in identifying underlying psychological issues, developing coping mechanisms, and fostering healthier decision-making processes. Through various therapeutic approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and group therapy, individuals can gain insight into their addiction, build a support network, and work towards sustainable recovery.

This also highlights one of the broader issues with gambling addiction recovery research (and indeed more broadly, mental health recovery) – that of measurement, and how exactly one quantifies ‘recovery’. This list demonstrates the absence of a concrete underlying theory of gambling addiction, or of how that might be measured. The authors of this study chose the measures which were most applicable to the sample and nature of the study, however there may have been an oversight regarding whether these two measures could be used to measure the same thing. In comparison, those with alcohol addictions were protected by the social support received from their familiar network.

In conclusion, the results from the present study indicate that social support and belong, whilst inter-related, are discrete constructs and have a differential impact on gambling addiction recovery. In particular, whilst higher belonging, and being a member of Gamblers Anonymous were found to predict lower gambling urges, higher social support predicted better quality of life. Despite the number of people affected by problem gambling, there remains no clear pathway for recovery.