This June 2010 edition of Issues & Insights reflects on the progress of the field by answering the question, “What has been the most significant change in how scientists look at gambling disorders over the past 30 years?
Gambling and gambling-related problems are common among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States, but there is new evidence that African Americans are more likely to experience gambling-related problems than white Americans. Differences in prevalence and development of gambling disorders among those of other ethnic backgrounds are not well understood. A better understanding of gambling behaviors, gambling problem severity and other psychiatric disorders in minority populations could benefit gambling prevention and treatment programs.
Research has shown that a therapeutic option known as Motivational Interviewing has had success when used by alcohol and drug counselors. But what about gambling disorders? The December 2010 edition of Issues & Insights focuses on the origins of motivational interviewing, its principles and how David Hodgins, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Calgary in Canada, is testing this approach with those diagnosed with a gambling disorder.
Responsible gaming programs are intended to prevent or reduce potential gambling-related harms (Blaszczynski, Ladouceur, & Shaffer, 2004). Examples of such programs range from brochures about disordered gambling to helping gamblers keep track of money wagered through “smart cards.” But are these programs effective? This May 2010 edition of Issues & Insights looks at a study published by Drs. Lia Nower and Alex Blaszczynski which demonstrates that rigorous scientific research is vital to determining the effectiveness of a responsible gaming strategy.
Self-exclusion is one of the most widely used responsible gaming strategies. These programs allow individuals to literally “exclude” themselves from a gaming venue as a way of dealing with problematic gambling behavior. Scientific research on the safety and effectiveness of self-exclusion is just now catching up to the establishment of such programs, which began more than a decade ago. This August 2010 edition of Issues & Insights highlights selected peer-reviewed studies in this emerging area of research.