Spilleavhengighet. En litteraturstudie med vekt på behandlingsmetoder, supplert med en spørreundersøkelse blant psykologer

Abstract

It is recoqnised that pathological gambling causes significant health problems (APA, 2000). Gambling comes to dominate the individual´s life to the detriment of social, occupational, material, and family values and commitment. Social relations are hereby detoriated. Prevalence of pathological gambling is estimated to be 1-2% in many countries, and the problem is growing. Prevalenceresearch in Norway is lacking. Based on international findings, prevalence in Norway is discussed. Litterature on treatment and treatment efficasy was searched for through the BIBSYS databases MEDLINE, PsychINFO, FORSKDOK, and ISI. Litterature suggests that cognitive and behavioral theories and methods are promising in treatment of pathological gambling, but a combination of several approaches is advocated. These findings are rather consistent with research on the effectiveness of treatment for other addictive behaviors. Recommondations for treatment is presented. To survey psychologists attitudes, experience and knowledge towards treatment of pathological gambling, a questionaire was distributed to a sample of psychologists (N=74) in Hordaland county. The responserate was 73% (n=54). SPSS was used for descriptive analyses. Data suggests that there are pathological gamblers in Hordaland in need of treatment. Two thirds of the psychologists feel competent in treating pathological gamblers, but more than half of the psychologists don’t know where to refer these clients. Implications of these findings are discussed.