Frontiers in Psychology (Mar 2016)

Treatment Outcome in Male Gambling Disorder Patients Associated with Alcohol Use

  • Susana eJiménez-Murcia,
  • Amparo edel Pino-Gutierrez,
  • Fernando eFernandez-Aranda,
  • Roser eGranero,
  • Anders eHakansson,
  • Salomé eTárrega,
  • Ana eValdeperez,
  • Neus eAymami,
  • Monica eGomez-Peña,
  • Laura eMoragas,
  • Marta eBaño,
  • Anne eSauvaget,
  • Maria eRomeu,
  • Jose M Menchon

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00465
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7

Abstract

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Aims: The primary objective of this study was to analyze the association between alcohol consumption and short-term response to treatment (post intervention) in male patients with gambling disorder enrolled in a group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program.Methods: The sample consisted of 111 male individuals with a diagnosis of Gambling Disorder, with a mean age of 45 years (SD= 12.2). All participants were evaluated by a comprehensive assessment battery and assigned to CBT groups of 10-14 patients attending 16 weekly outpatient sessions lasting 90 min each.Results: The highest mean pre- and post-therapy differences were recorded for the alcohol risk/dependence group on the obsessive/compulsive and anxiety dimensions of the SCL-90-R. As regards the presence of relapses and dropouts over the course of the CBT sessions, the results show a significant association with moderate effect size: patients with risk consumption or alcohol dependence were more likely to present poor treatment outcomes.Conclusions: Alcohol abuse was frequent in GD, especially in patients with low family income and high accumulated debts. High levels of somatization and high overall psychopathology (measured by the SCL-90-R) were associated with increased risk of alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse was also associated with poor response to treatment.

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