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Internet‐based CBT intervention for gamblers in Finland: Experiences from the field
Author(s) -
Castrén Sari,
Pankakoski Maiju,
Tamminen Manu,
Lipsanen Jari,
Ladouceur Robert,
Lahti Tuuli
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1467-9450
pISSN - 0036-5564
DOI - 10.1111/sjop.12034
Subject(s) - psychology , intervention (counseling) , the internet , field (mathematics) , applied psychology , psychotherapist , clinical psychology , psychiatry , world wide web , computer science , mathematics , pure mathematics
From September 2007 to May 2011 a total of 471 participants (325 males and 146 females) signed up for an 8‐week Internet‐based cognitive behavioral therapy offered for gamblers in Finland. Sixty‐four percent of the participants were pathological gamblers ( PG s) ( NODS 5> points), 14% were problem gamblers ( NODS 3–4 points) and 10% were at risk of gambling problems ( NODS 1–2 points). Two hundred and twenty four participants completed the treatment and after the treatment period significant changes were found in the following variables: gambling related problems ( NODS ), gambling urge, impaired control of gambling, alcohol consumption ( AUDIT ‐C), social consequences, gambling‐related cognitive erroneous thoughts and depression ( MARD ‐S). In this sample co‐morbid alcohol consumption was stronger among males. The main finding of this study was that the onset age of gambling was associated with a greater amount of gambling‐related cognitive erroneous thoughts.