The effectiveness of short-term group therapy upon the pathological gambler and wife

Abstract

The study was undertaken with the general hypothesis that short term conjoint group therapy with pathological gamblers and their wives would help them become less defensive. This should enable the “working through” process, and hence contribute to increased marital compatibility and communications. Ten volunteer couples were subjects in the experimental condition. The same number of subjects participated as controls. They were all active members of Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon. The treatment modality used was based upon the G.A. Twelve-Step Recovery Program. All subjects were tested with repeated measures on the Beck Depression Inventory, the FIRO-MATE, and the Mooney Problem Check Lists. No significant results were obtained vis-a-vis the general hypothesis. Data analysis revealed that treatment couples showed higher awareness and concerns to the conflicts in neurotic relationships, whereas, the control wives continued to blame gambling as the essential problem rather than the symptom of chaotic, but enduring marriages (overall mean of 17.4 years married). Also, resistance to depression remained intact in the experimental condition. Following the conclusion of the experiment, all but one of the original treatment couples elected to continue the group process and the program has become an addendum to the regular G.A. meetings. The inference was that some level of consciousness was affected in the treatment subjects and further research in longer-term processes was indicated.