A preliminary consideration of cue-exposure,response-prevention treatment for pathological gambling behaviour: two case studies

Cue-exposure, response-prevention, a promising treatment for cigarette-smoking, substance abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc. has not been fully utilized as a treatment for pathological gambling. Two case-studies, modelled on work by R. Self (1989), with cigarette smoking behaviour, report on an active and thorough application of this treatment to pathological gambling. In both cases, self-report of gambling behaviour and urges to gamble in any situation were found to decrease substantially. Outcome differences between participants were discussed with reference to different levels of pathological gambling as measured by the South Oaks Gambling Screen. It was concluded that cue-exposure, response-prevention should be given more serious consideration as a treatment approach for pathological gambling.