Treatments for Gambling Addiction
pathways April 11th, 2011
Treatments for Gambling Addiction
GamblingAddiction
ScienceDaily (Apr. 11, 2011)
— Pathological gambling addiction is surprisingly common in the U.S.,
afflicting as many as 3.4% of all adults. Like other addictions, it is
highly disabling both to the individual and to society, often leading to
suicide, job loss, and criminal behavior. It affects more men than
women and can become worse over time.
Scientists have found that a wide range of drugs can be effective for
treating this disorder in the short term, including Naltrexone, used to
treat alcohol addiction. Now, psychiatrist Prof. Pinhas Dannon of Tel
Aviv University’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine is recommending an
extended treatment regimen for optimal results.
For best success in kicking the gambling habit, Prof. Dannon says,
drug therapy with Naltrexone should last for at least two years and be
complemented with other treatments, including group therapy. Prof.
Dannon presented preliminary results from his new clinical findings at
the EPA 2011: 19th European Congress of Psychiatry this March.
Two years to stick
Earlier studies reported that after six months of treatment, a
majority of the gamblers would not go back to gambling. Prof. Dannon
believes that a longer course of treatment is more effective.
“The initial results were too optimistic,” Prof. Dannon says. His
data indicates that a drug regimen lasting two years keeps 80 percent of
gamblers “gamble-free” over a four-year period. By contrast, only 30
percent of gamblers who were treated over a six-month period remained
gamble-free four years later.
The preliminary study, conducted in 2006 and 2007, was encouraging,
Prof. Dannon says, but for long-term effectiveness gambling addicts need
to stick out a course of treatment for at least two years in order for
Naltrexone to work most efficiently.
A holistic approach
Complementary treatments such as group therapy and regular attendance
at Gamblers’ Anonymous meetings can also help the addict lead a
healthier, gambling-free life.
During his career Prof. Dannon has also conducted extensive research
on other kinds of addiction, including Internet addiction. One of his
recent patients was addicted to the Facebook game Farmville, neglecting
her two young children to play it. While Facebook poker and Farmville
can be addictive, these obsessions can be treated differently than those
of hard-core gamblers who risk their marriages, houses and careers. For
milder addictions, group therapy and professional counselling might be
all the help that’s needed.
“Gambling addiction is a chronic disorder,” Prof Dannon concludes.
“We need much more time to treat these patients. They require careful
monitoring and holistic treatments over the longer term to avoid
relapse.”
Reference
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110411103749.htm
