Abstract
This case report of a 31 year old woman who described her main problem as an uncontrollable urge to gamble on electronic gaming machines describes the application of exposure therapy (ET) by videoconferencing and the use of a clinical therapy assistant in the treatment of pathological gambling. The case study is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of this treatment with six sessions of therapy and 4 year follow up. The use of videoconferencing is discussed in relation to treatment effectiveness, ongoing follow up for the client and education and support for a community mental health nurse, therapy assistant, in a rural setting in South Australia. The implications of using this modality for the treatment of rural patients with problem gambling is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrews, G., & Hunt, C. (1998). Treatments that work in anxiety disorders. Medical Journal of Australia, 168, 628–634.
Baigent, M. F., Lloyd, C. J., Kavanagh, S. J., Ben-Tovim, D. L., Yellowlees, P. M., Kalucy, R. S., & Bond, M. J. (1997). Telepsychiatry: “Tele” yes, but what about the “psychiatry”? Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 3, 3–5.
Battersby, M. W., Ask, A., Reece, M. M., Markwick, M. J., & Collins, J. P. (2001). A case study using the “problems and goals approach” in a coordinated care trial: SA health plus. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 7, 45–48.
Beck, A., Ward, C., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561–571.
Beck, A. T., Emery, G., & Greenberg, R. (1985). Anxiety disorders and phobias. A cognitive perspective. New York: Basic Books.
Blaszczynski, A., & McConaghy, N. (1989). Anxiety and/or depression in the pathogenesis of addictive gambling. The International Journal of Addictions, 24, 337–350.
Crockford, D., & el-Guebaly, N. (1998). Psychiatric comorbidity in pathological gambling: A critical review. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 43, 43–50.
Drummond, C., Cooper, T., & Glautier, S. P. (1990). Conditioned learning in alcohol dependence: Implications for cue exposure. British Journal of Addiction, 85, 725–743.
Echeburùa, E., Baez, C., & Fernández-Montlalvo, J. (1996). Comparative effectiveness of three therapeutic modalities in the psychological treatment of pathological gambling: Long-term outcome. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 24, 51–72.
Foa, E., & Kozak, M. (1986). Emotional processing of fear: Exposure to corrective information. American Psychological Association, 99, 20–35.
Hawker, F., Kavanagh, S. J., Yellowlees, P. M., & Kalucy, R. S. (1998). Telepsychiatry in South Australia. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 4, 187–194.
Lesieur, H. R., & Blume, S. B. (1987). The South Oaks gambling screen (SOGS): A new instrument for the identification of pathological gamblers. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 1184–1188.
Livingstone, A. (1999). Professional Supervision and support in rural and remote psychology: Telemedicine and other approaches. In the South Australian conference; September, Adelaide.
Lovell, K., Richards, D. (2000). Multiple access points and levels of entry (MAPLE): Ensuring choice, accessibility and equity for CBT services. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 28.
Mc Conaghy, N., Armstrong, M., Blaszczynski, A., & Allcock, C. (1983). Controlled comparison of aversive therapy and imaginal desensitization in compulsive gambling. British Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 366–372.
McConaghy, N., Armstrong, M. S., Blaszczynski, A., & Allcock, C. (1988). Behaviour completion versus stimulus control in compulsive gambling. Behaviour Modification, 12, 371–384.
McConaghy, N., Blaszczynski, A., & Frankova, A. (1991). Comparison of imaginal desensitisation with other behavioural treatments of pathological gambling: A two to nine year follow up. British Journal of Psychiatry, 159, 390–393.
Marks, I. (1987). Fears phobias and rituals. New York: Oxford Press.
Mundt, J. C., Marks, I. M., Shear, M. K., & Greist, J. H. (2002). The work and social adjustment scale: A simple measure of impairment in functioning. British Journal of Psychiatry, 180, 461–464.
Ohinmaa, A., & Hailey, D. (2002). Telemedicine, outcomes and policy decisions. Disease Management Outcomes, 10, 269–276.
Parke, J., & Griffiths, M. (2004). Editorial: Gambling addiction and the evolution of the “near miss”. Addiction Research and Theory, 12, 407–411.
Petry, N., Ammerman, Y., Bohl, J., Doersch, A., Gay, H., Kadden, R., Molina, C., & Steinberg, K. (2006). Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Pathological Gamblers. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(3), 555–567.
Productivity Commission. (1999). Australia’s gambling industries. Canberra, Australia.
Strang, J., Marks, I., Dawe, S., Powell, J., Gossop, M., Richards, D., & Gray J. (1997). Type of hospital setting and treatment outcome with heroin addicts. results from a randomised trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 170(10), 335–339.
Symes, B. A., & Nicki, R. M. (1997). A preliminary consideration of cue-exposure and response prevention treatment for pathological gambling behaviour: Two case studies. Journal of Gambling Studies, 13, 145–157.
Tolchard, B., & Battersby, M. W. (2000). Nurse behavioural psychotherapy and pathological gambling: An Australian perspective. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 7, 335–342.
Toneatto, T., & Ladouceur, R. (2003). Treatment of pathological gambling: A critical review of the literature. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 17, 284–292.
Yellowlees, P. M., & Kennedy, C. (1997). Telemedicine: Here to stay. Medical Journal of Australia, 166, 262–265.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Oakes, J., Battersby, M.W., Pols, R.G. et al. Exposure Therapy for Problem Gambling via Videoconferencing: A Case Report. J Gambl Stud 24, 107–118 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-007-9074-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-007-9074-4