Treatment of Problem Gamblers via Internet based
self-help manual
Evaluation
This is the result from the treatment performed in Sweden.
NODS (The NORC Diagnostic Screen for Gambling Problems
Table 1. No difference between the two groups was identified at screening or at pre-test. However, after 8 weeks of either treatment or waiting a significant difference appeared. The gains made by the treatment group are maintained at the 6 month follow-up. As the waitlist received treatment immediately following the post-test there is no follow-up data for the control group.
| Group | Mean | Std. Deviation | N | |
| Screening | Treatment | 8.00 | 1.348 | 34 |
| Waitinglist | 7.70 | 1.510 | 33 | |
| Pre-test | Treatment | 8.21 | 1.321 | 34 |
| Waitinglist | 7.73 | 1.526 | 33 | |
| Post-test | Treatment | 1.97 | 2.713 | 33 |
| Waitinglist | 5.79 | 2.713 | 33 | |
| Follow-up | Treatment | 0.63 | 1.100 | 32 |
| Waitinglist | Not collected | Not collected | Not collected | |
| Table 1 | ||||
Quality of life (QOLI)
Table 2. There is a significant interaction (F1,67=11.6; p=.001). Hence, participants in the treatment group showed greater life satisfaction than people on the waitlist. Treatment gains are maintained and at follow-up.
| Group | Mean | Std. Deviation | N | |
| Pre-test | Treatment | 1.55 | 1.26 | 34 |
| Waitinglist | 1.47 | 1.59 | 33 | |
| Post-test | Treatment | 2.58 | 1.29 | 34 |
| Waitinglist | 1.47 | 1.72 | 33 | |
| Follow-up | Treatment | 2.89 | 1.17 | 32 |
| Waitinglist | Not collected | Not collected | Not collected | |
| Table 2 | ||||
DSM-IV
Table 3 is showing proportion of participants meeting zero, 1-2, 3-4 or 5 or more DSM-criteria. A score of 0 indicates that results are not consistent with problematic levels of gambling. A score of 1 or 2 means that results are consistent with mild but subclinical risk for gambling problems. A score of 3 or 4 indicates results are consistent with moderate but subclinical gambling problems. A score of 5 or higher means that results are consistent with a likely diagnosis of pathological gambling, consistent with the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV. After treatment 47% no longer has a problematic level of gambling, where as the corresponding number for the waitlist group is 6%. Again, treatment gains are maintained and at follow-up 69% of the treatment group lo longer show any symptoms of problematic gambling.
| Meeting this number of DSM-criteria | |||||
| Group | 0 | 1-2 | 3-4 | 5+ | |
| Creen | Treatment | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% |
| Waitinglist | 0% | 0% | 3% | 97% | |
| Pre-test | Treatment | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% |
| Waitinglist | 0% | 0% | 3% | 0% | |
| Follow-up | Treatment | 69% | 22% | 9% | 0% |
| Waitinglist | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | |
| Table 3 | |||||
Background | Model and treatment | Evaluation