Understanding what works with problem gambling

We have studied the effectiveness of problem gambling interventions in order to better understand what works. The situation is quite fluid, with no single stand out therapeutic approaches at this point in time and knowledge. However we have identified a range of program design and delivery factors that influence the effectiveness of services. These have informed the development of the problem gambling counselling service standards that we have been working on over the last year for the Victorian Department of Human Services.

Some of our relevant publications

• Jackson, A. C., Thomas, S. A., Dowling, N., & Holt, T. A. (in press, accepted November 2007). Treatment careers in problem gambling: Factors associated with first treatment and treatment re-entry. Addiction Research and Theory.
• Westphal, J., Jackson, A.C., Thomas, S.A., & Blaszczynski, A. (in press, accepted November 2006). Pharmacological Approaches to Intervention in Problem Gambling: A Brief Review. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions.
• Jackson, A.C., & Thomas, S.A. (2005). Clients' perspectives of, and experiences with, selected Australian problem gambling services. Journal of Gambling Issues, 14 (September):(published on-line at http://www.camh.net/egambling/index.html).
• Jackson, A.C., Thomas, S.A., Holt, T., & Thomason, N. (2005). Change and continuity in help-seeking problem gambling population: A five-year record. Journal of Gambling Issues, 13 (March): (published on-line at http://www.camh.net/egambling/index.html).
• Crisp, B.R., Jackson, A.C., Thomas, S.A., Thomason, N., Smith, S., Borrell, J., Ho, W. & Holt, T.A., (2001) ‘Is more better? The relationship between outcomes achieved by problem gamblers and the number of counselling sessions attended’, Australian Social Work, 54, 3, 83-92.
• Crisp, B.R., Thomas, S.A., Jackson, A.C., & Thomason, N., (2001) ‘The influence of demographic, behavioural and treatment characteristics on outcomes achieved by problem gamblers in respect of their gambling behaviour’, Australian Journal of Primary Health, 7, 2, 32-36.
• Jackson, AC, Thomas, S.A, & Blaszczynski, A. (2003). Best Practice in Problem Gambling Services . Melbourne: Gambling Research Panel. ISBN 0975119109.
• Jackson, A.C., Thomas, S.A., Thomason, N., Borrell, J., Crisp, B.R., Enderby, K., Fauzee, Y., Ho, W., Holt, T.A., Perez, E., & Smith, S. (2002) Longitudinal Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Problem Gambling Counselling Services, Community Education Strategies and Information Products - Volume 1: Service Design and Access, Melbourne: Victorian Department of Human Services. (ISBN 07311 6168 8)
• Jackson, A.C., Thomas, S.A., Thomason, N., Borrell, J., Crisp, B.R., Ho, W., Holt, T.A., &  Smith, S. (2002) Longitudinal Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Problem Gambling Counselling Services, Community Education Strategies and Information Products - Volume 2: Counselling Interventions , Melbourne: Victorian Department of Human Services. (ISBN 07311 6168 8)
• Jackson, A.C., Thomas, S.A., Thomason, N., & Ho, W. (2002) Longitudinal Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Problem Gambling Counselling Services, Community Education Strategies and Information Products - Volume 3: Community Education Strategies and Information Products, Melbourne: Victorian Department of Human Services. (ISBN 07311 6170 X)
• Jackson, A.C., Thomas, S.A., Thomason, N., & Holt, T.A., (2002) Longitudinal Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Problem Gambling Counselling Services, Community Education Strategies and Information Products - Volume 4: The Counsellor Task Analysis (Problem Gambling) Instrument – a Report on Development, Reliability and Application , Melbourne: Victorian Department of Human Services. (ISBN 07311 6171 8)
• Thomas, S.A., Jackson, A.C., Anderson, J., & Kearney, E. (2002) Longitudinal Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Problem Gambling Counselling Services, Community Education Strategies and Information Products - Volume 5: Natural Recovery From Problem Gambling , Melbourne: Victorian Department of Human Services. (ISBN 07311 6172 6)
• Thomas, S.A. & Jackson, A.C. (2002) Longitudinal Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Problem Gambling Counselling Services, Community Education Strategies and Information Products - Volume 6: Project Discussion Paper , Melbourne: Victorian Department of Human Services. (ISBN 07311 6173 4)