Canadian Journal of Psychiatry: Problem gambling reversable
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A study published by the Canadian Psychiatric Association challenges several of the prevailing assumptions regarding the intractable nature of gambling addiction.
The study, titled Stability and Progression of Disordered Gambling:Lessons From Longitudinal Studies, reviewed recent research regarding problem gambling and drew several conclusions that challenge the conventional view of gambling addiction. Excerpt:
Results: Our review found no evidence to support the assumption that individuals cannot recover from disordered gambling (that is, the persistence assumption), no evidence to support the assumption that individuals who have more severe gambling problems are less likely to improve than individuals who have less severe gambling problems (that is, the selective-stability assumption), and no evidence to support the assumption that individuals who have some gambling problems are more likely to worsen than individuals who do not have gambling problems (that is, the progression assumption).
Conclusion: Contrary to professional and conventional wisdom suggesting that gambling problems are always progressive and enduring, this review demonstrates instability and multidirectional courses in disordered gambling.
