Literature Review
Gambling addiction is now a growing public health concern. However, our understanding of how individuals experience psychological treatment for gambling addiction is limited. It is important to understand such experiences more deeply, particularly as treatment guidance is under development. This qualitative review explored individual experiences of psychological treatment for gambling and what may be found helpful or challenging. A structured search was performed using three research databases. Eight studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included. These were analysed using a method called thematic synthesis. Four themes about individual’s experience of psychological treatment for gambling addiction were found: getting the treatment you need is difficult, treatment can make a difference, obstacles along the way, and gaining treatment perspectives. Participants experienced challenges when seeking and accessing psychological treatment. However, it was found that psychological treatment can be helpful. These helpful experiences were not without both practical and internal challenges. Through their lived experiences, participants gained treatment perspectives. Such unique perspectives informed their knowledge and understanding of different gambling treatments and ongoing recovery from gambling addiction. These findings hold clinical implications and future recommendations for research. It was recommended to assess treatment accessibility, availability of support, psychological treatment approaches, helpful techniques, and online treatment delivery, including support networks, and recognising the value of lived experience was considered important. Future research should aim to focus on better quality qualitative studies which explore individual experiences of psychological treatment, comparing various gambling treatments, and reasons why individuals may drop out of psychology treatment.
Empirical Project
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to significant impacts on individuals’ daily lives. Individuals living with a gambling addiction were particularly vulnerable in the pandemic. Psychological treatment guidance is currently under development, and qualitative research exploring such experiences in the context of the pandemic is limited. This study aimed to make sense of individual experiences of psychological treatment for adults living with a gambling addiction in the United Kingdom in the context of the pandemic. The study analysed data using a method called interpretative phenomenological analysis. Eight participants took part, and semi-structured interviews were used. Participants were recruited from the Northern Gambling Service and had received psychological treatment since the pandemic. Qualitative findings included three themes: out of control, taking back control, and a gambling shadow remains. Most participants experienced significant negative challenges in their relationship with gambling during the pandemic. Participants sought psychological treatment, which helped them limit their gambling harms. Therapeutic relationships and family support further supported this. Participants spoke about ongoing vulnerabilities in their gambling recovery. Further gambling harms were risked by continued exposure to gambling advertising and limited wider gambling support available. The findings have implications for healthcare and policy. It is important to screen to see if individuals experienced difficulties with their gambling during the pandemic. This research supported the delivery of flexible psychological treatment. Wider support and further reviews of limiting gambling exposure and gambling harms are needed. Future research should explore the experiences of harder-to-reach participants and different treatment options.
