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A comparison of relapsed and non‐relapsed abstinent pathological gamblers following behavioural treatment
Author(s) -
BLASZCZYNSKI A.,
McCONAGHY N.,
FRANKOVA A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
british journal of addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0952-0481
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1991.tb01734.x
Subject(s) - abstinence , pathological , addiction , psychology , psychiatry , relapse prevention , clinical psychology , medicine
Eighteen pathological gamblers reporting abstinence at a 2–9‐year follow‐up period were classified into two samples; those reporting complete abstinence, or those abstinent with intermittent relapse episodes. Results indicated that both samples improved significantly on post‐treatment psychological and demographic measures, and did not differ from each other. It was concluded that a subgroup of gamblers may experience intermittent brief relapses that are not invariably associated with a continued return to addictive gambling habits. Complete abstinence as a criterion for successful treatment outcome may be too stringent in that it fails to acknowledge the possibility of continued abstinence following brief episodes of relapse.