Free Gambling Treatment Comes To You

Psychologists from The University of Queensland’s School of Psychology have developed a self help program based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) principles. The seven-session program manual educates readers about the nature of gambling, and the triggers and factors that maintain problem gambling. The program includes strategies for challenging common thinking errors associated with gambling, as well as practical strategies for managing mood, budgeting, relationship problems and achieving a more balanced lifestyle.

The program is easy to follow with lots of encouraging comments, and has been approved by a group of consumers with gambling problems as well as a group of experts who regularly treat problem gamblers. The project is funded by a Responsible Gambling research grant from the Department of Treasury.

The gambling research team headed by Professor Tian Oei is currently looking for 250 volunteers to participate in a free trial of the program. Previous trials using the CBT treatment in a face-to-face format proved to be very successful. The current trial is designed to evaluate the same program delivered in a self help format using a manual sent by mail. Participants are asked to work through the manual one session a week, and to mail back activity sheets in reply paid envelopes. The team believes the program will be favoured by people who are reluctant to see a therapist face-to-face, or who live outside of major metropolitan areas and find it more difficult to access specialist treatment services.

Participation in the program is free and those involved will be protected by the safeguards recommended by the University of QLD Behavioural and Social Sciences Ethics Review Committee.

This is a randomised controlled trial, so half of the volunteers will be assigned to a 6-week waitlist period, after which they will receive the treatment manual; while the other half will receive the manual straight away. Volunteers will be asked to complete a confidential survey at the beginning and end of the program, and again at six and 12 months after its completion.

If you are interested in participating in this treatment trial, contact:

Dr Genevieve Dingle (telephone 07 3346 9417 or selfhelp@psy.uq.edu.au ) or visit the Self Help Treatment for Problem Gamblers project website for more information: http://exp.psy.uq.edu.au/selfhelp

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