In the Pursuit of Winning. Problem Gambling Theory, Research and Treatment

About this book

Poker websites. State lotteries. Sports betting. As gambling outlets become easier to find, more—and younger—people are risking their finances, family lives, and health. In the Pursuit of Winning brings together an international panel of 35 experts to present theoretical, clinical, sociological, historical, and spiritual perspectives on problem gambling, and test popular addiction and disease models in the field. Early chapters examine the general psychology of gambling, before moving on to the irrational ideas associated with compulsive wagering, from belief in luck to illusions of control. The seven chapters in the second half are devoted to evidence-based interventions from a variety of clinical orientations. Case examples, Q&A sections, and a glossary add extra readability to the coverage.

Among the highlights:

• The genesis of gambling: human nature or social learning?
• Potential relationships between individual factors—including temperament, coping skills, and specific clinical syndromes—and problem gambling.
• Beyond the house edge: the view from economics and marketing.
• Cognitive-behavioral, transpersonal, and anger-management interventions for pathological gambling.
• Guidelines for developmentally appropriate treatment of gambling problems in youth.
• Cogent reviews of Gamblers Anonymous, telephone/online counseling, and the emerging science of pharmacology in gambling treatment.

For addiction counselors, psychiatrists, health psychologists, clinical social workers, and researchers in behavioral medicine, here are solid insights into an underrecognized client population. Its balance of accessibility and scientific rigor make In the Pursuit of Winning an ideal textbook for applied and graduate programs in addiction counseling and health psychology.

Written for: Health Psychologists, addiction counselors and clinical social workers, behavioral medicine researchers, policy makers

Keywords:

Gambling
Gambling and health
Gambling and treatment
Gambling research
Gambling theory

Table of contents

The Role of Helpline Services.- The Treatment of Problem Gamblers: A Jungian-Transpersonal Approach.- Pharmacological Treatment.- Binge Gambling: Clinical and Therapeutic Considerations.- Clinical Interventions for the Treatment of Gambling Problems and Pathological Gambling.- Pathological Gambling, Anger, and Dysregulated Emotion.- Aboriginal Peoples’ Experiences With Gambling: Past, Present, and Future.- Cognitive Therapy for Problem Gambling.- Problem Gambling Counselor Certification: The How’s and Why’s.- How to Measure Outcomes In Problem Gambling Treatment.- In Vivo Desensitization/Biofeedback and Pathological Gambling Treatment.- A Treatment Approach for Adolescents with Gambling Problems.- Outlook for the Future of Interventions in Problem Gambling Behavior.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"Zangeneh, Blaszczynski, and Turner offer an excellent and complete account of the current state of the science of gambling behavior and the treatment of problem gambling. … Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers." (S. R. Flora, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (11), 2008)

"This book is a series of very interesting … ideas on the nature of gambling, of pathological or compulsive gambling, and on treatment. … I found this book to be an interesting and informative read, particularly in its attempt to provide diverse voices on the possible causes of pathological gambling. It is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students, clinicians, and academics and will add to our debates about the nature and treatment of pathological gambling." (David M. Ledgerwood, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 53 (38), 2008)