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Controlled Comparison of Aversive Therapy and Imaginal Desensitization in Compulsive Gambling

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Nathaniel McConaghy ,
Michael S. Armstrong ,
Alex Blaszczynski  and
Clive Allcock
Nathaniel McConaghy
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of N.S.W., Kensington, Australia, 2033
Michael S. Armstrong
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of N.S.W., Kensington, Australia, 2033
Alex Blaszczynski
Affiliation:
Division of Behaviour Therapy, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia
Clive Allcock
Affiliation:
Parramatta Psychiatric Centre, North Parramatta, Australia
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Summary

Twenty compulsive gamblers were randomly allocated, half to receive aversion-relief therapy and half to receive imaginal desensitization; both groups were followed-up for one year. Compared with those who received aversion-relief, gamblers who received imaginal desensitization reported a significantly greater reduction of gambling urge and behaviour; they also showed a significant reduction in trait anxiety at one year and in state anxiety at one month and one year following treatment. A high level of state anxiety at one month following treatment predicted failure to respond to treatment at one year in the subjects who received imaginal desensitization, but not in those who received aversion-relief. The relationship between reduction in anxiety and in gambling urge in response to imaginal desensitization was predicted from the theory that compulsive gambling is driven by aversive tension.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 142 , Issue 4 , April 1983 , pp. 366 - 372
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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