Practice Guidelines for Treating Gambling Related Problems

Course overview

Course Description: This course has been compiled from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive introduction to the screening for, assessment of, and treatment of gambling-related disorders. The material is compiled from open-access articles. Given the high prevalence of disordered gambling (DG) among those with substance use disorders, screening for gambling disorders in substance abuse treatment settings is strongly advisable. Additionally, the prevalence of gambling disorder has been found to be at least 2 to 4 times higher among individuals diagnosed with other mental health disorders than among the general population. Significantly, in one large national epidemiological study, it was found that while nearly 50 percent of individuals who met the criteria for gambling disorder had received treatment for another mental health condition, 0 percent had received treatment for their gambling disorder. This clearly points to the need to implement effective screening for gambling disorders in all behavioral health settings. This course is intended to assist clinicians with the identification, assessment, and treatment of disordered gambling. Specifically, there are practice guidelines for licensed and or certified behavioral health professionals who provide counseling for adults at-risk, affected by, or suffering from health-related gambling problems. In addition, this course addresses the following three areas of clinical concern: counseling issues with special populations, intervention strategies in differing practice settings, and the role of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of gambling disorders. This course on gambling disorders is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work. In addition, this course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced-level practitioners who wish to enhance their clinical skills in the screening, assessment, and treatment of gambling disorders. The course material includes a literature review of assessment instruments, interventions, and research. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. Authors: National Council on Problem Gambling and Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding the screening, assessment, and treatment of gambling disorders. Specifically, a professional will: Summarize cultural factors that impact gambling disorders. Describe evidence-based treatment interventions for gambling disorders. Describe counseling issues for gambling disorders with special populations. Citation: Korn, D.A. and Shaffer, H. J. Massachusetts Department of Public Healths Practice Guideline for Treating Gambling-Related Problems. An Evidence-Based Treatment Guide for Clinicians. Retrieved on 3/26/2023 from https://www.divisiononaddiction.org/html/publications/2004_Korn_Shaffer.pdf