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01-06-2006 | Original Paper

Preliminary Evaluation of a Coping Skills Training Program for Those with a Pathological-Gambling Partner

Authors: Robert G. Rychtarik, Neil B. McGillicuddy

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies | Issue 2/2006

Abstract

Individuals living with a pathological-gambling partner can experience significant psychological distress. In this report, we conduct a preliminary evaluation of a coping skills training program (CST) for this population. Twenty-three individuals experiencing stress from living with a pathological-gambling partner who was not in treatment were randomly assigned to either CST or a delayed treatment control (DTC) condition. CST consisted of ten, weekly individual sessions to teach more effective coping skills. At the end of the treatment/delay period, CST participants, relative to those in DTC, showed a large improvement in coping skillfulness that appeared to mediate a corresponding large significant reduction in depression and anxiety relative to DTC. Partner gambling during the period decreased in both conditions but did not differ between them, nor did partner help-seeking differ. CST shows promise as an effective treatment for individuals distressed as a result of a partner’s gambling problem. Larger, longer-term evaluations of the intervention, and comparison with alternate treatment models are needed.

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Title: Preliminary Evaluation of a Coping Skills Training Program for Those with a Pathological-Gambling Partner
Authors: Robert G. Rychtarik
Neil B. McGillicuddy
Publication date: 01-06-2006
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies / Issue 2/2006
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3602
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-006-9008-6

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