In this paper the most relevant findings of our research team on pathological gambling in the last decade are presented. There is no conclusive empirical evidence of a specific profile of the pathological gamblers. The choice treatment appears to be stimulus control and in vivo exposure with response prevention, followed by a cognitive-behavioral intervention in relapse prevention. Predictive variables for the therapeutic failure were the dissatisfaction with the treatment, the alcohol abuse and the neuroticism as a personality variable. Unanswered questions for future research in this field are commented upon.
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Echeburúa, E., Fernández-Montalvo, J. Psychological Treatment of Slot-Machine Pathological Gambling: New Perspectives. J Gambl Stud 21, 21–26 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-004-1918-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-004-1918-6