Brief Self-Directed Gambling Treatment (BSGT)

• Three randomized trials provide evidence of the efficacy of BSGT. Two of these trials tested the telephone-mailed self-help workbook treatment specifically and the other trial assessed a face-to-face version. In each of these trials, specific behavioural outcomes included gambling frequency and expenditures as primary outcomes and gambling problem severity as a secondary outcome. 
• Trial 1 (Hodgins, Currie, & el-Guebaly, 2001) randomly assigned 102 individuals with gambling problems to one of three conditions: BSGT, workbook only, and waiting list control. The initial report followed individuals for 12 months, with interviews at three, six, and 12 months (85% follow-up rate). Participants in the BSGT were more likely to have significantly reduced days of gambling and expenditures at 3, 6, and 12 months. Similar results were also found in a further 24-month follow-up (78% follow-up rate; Hodgins, Currie, el-Guebaly, & Peden, 2004). 
• Trial 2 (Hodgins, Currie, Currie, & Fick, 2009) provided a replication and extension of the above design with a larger sample size (N = 314). Individuals with gambling problems were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: BSGT, workbook only, waitlist control and BSGT control with extended telephone contact in the form of 5 monthly booster calls. Results of a 12-month follow-up (85% follow-up rate) showed an advantage of the two BSGT conditions over the workbook only and waitlist control groups. There was no added advantage of the booster calls over BSGT with a single telephone contact. 
• The BSGT telephone intervention uses a motivational interviewing model that encourages clients to identify and resolve their ambivalent feelings about changing their gambling involvement and to voice a commitment to change. A detailed analysis of audiotapes from these telephone contacts provided support for the therapeutic effectiveness of this model. Strength of commitment, identified by blinded raters of the sessions, correlated with gambling outcomes in the follow-up year (Hodgins, Ching, & McEwan, 2009). 
• Trial 3 (Diskin, & Hodgins, 2009) assessed a face-to-face session of the BSGT. Participants (N = 81) were randomly assigned to receive a face-to-face motivational interview about their gambling concerns or a structured clinical interview. Participants in both groups received the self-help workbook. Results showed an advantage for the motivational interview on the frequency of gambling and expenditures. 

• Becoming a Winner self-help workbook: This workbook is 40 pages and includes a variety of personalized exercises to help with motivation and to help with developing behavioural strategies for reducing or quitting gambling. The workbook is easily modified to make it jurisdiction and agency-specific (e.g., logos, local content about resources). 
• BSGT Therapist intervention manual: This document provides an annotated structure for conducting the motivational interviewing model. 
• BSGT Therapist training PowerPoint presentation and video: This presentation is designed to be used in training therapists. 
• BSGT Participant follow-up interview schedule: Follow-up interviews have used a variety of standardized assessment tools, including the Timeline Followback interview and Gambling Abstinence Self-efficacy Scale. 

The following articles are provided:

Diskin, K.M., & Hodgins, D.C. (2009). A randomized controlled trial of a single session motivational intervention for concerned gamblers. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47(5), 382-388.

Hodgins, D.C., Ching, L.E., & MacEwan, J. (2009). Strength of commitment language in motivational interviewing and gambling outcomes. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 23(1), 122-130. 

Hodgins, D.C., Currie, S., & el-Guebaly, N. (2001). Motivational enhancement and self-help treatments for problem gambling. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69, 50-57.

Hodgins, D.C., Currie, S.R., el-Guebaly, N., & Peden, N. (2004). Brief motivational treatment for problem gambling: 24-month follow-up. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 18, 293-296.

Hodgins, D.C., Currie, S.R., Currie, G., & Fick, G.H. (2009). A randomized trial of brief motivational treatments for pathological gamblers: More is not necessarily better. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77(5), 950-960.