Skip to main content
Log in

Pathological gambling: Marital-familial factors, implications, and treatments

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of gambling behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The literature relating marital/familial factors to pathological gambling is reviewed. It is pointed out that numerous authors who focus on individual factors note the existence of marital problems in their patients. Additionally, improvements in the marriage often follow successful treatment for pathological gambling. Marital therapy has proven to be an effective intervention for this problem in many cases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arcuri, A.F., Lester, D., & Smith, F.O. (1985). Shaping adolescent gambling behavior,Adolescence, 20 935–938.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergler, E. (1958).The psychology of gambling. New York: International University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, W.H., & Bolen, D.W. (1970). The compulsive gambler and spouse in group psychotherapy.International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 20 77–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cotler, S.B. (1971). The use of different behavioral techniques in treating a case of compulsive gambling.Behavior Therapy, 2 579–584.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickerson, M.G., & Weeks, D. (1979). Controlled gambling as a therapeutic technique for compulsive gamblers.Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 10 139–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairbairn, W.R.D. (1952).An object relations theory of personality. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giovacchinni, P.L. (1965). Treatment of marital disharmonies: The classical approach. In B.L. Green (Ed.),The psychotherapies of marital disharmony. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goorney, A.B. (1968). Treatment of a compulsive horse race gambler by aversion therapy.British Journal of Psychiatry, 114 329–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, D., & Rankin, H. (1982). Compulsive gamblers in treatment.British Journal of Psychiatry, 140 364–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heineman, M. (1987). A comparison: The treatment of wives of alcoholics with the treatment of wives of pathological gamblers.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 3 27–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, D.F. (1986). A general theory of addictions.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 2 15–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesieur, H.R., Blume, S.F., & Zoppa, R.M. (1986). Alcoholism, drug abuse, and gambling.Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 10 33–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesieur, H.R., & Klein, R. (1987). Pathological gambling among high school students.Addictive Behaviors, 12 129–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, V.C. (1987). Family dynamics of pathological gamblers. In T. Galski (Ed.).The handbook of pathological gambling. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, V.C., & Shuttlesworth, D.E. (1983). The impact of pathological gambling on the spouse of the gambler.Journal of Community Psychology, 11 67–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, V.C., & Yaffee, R.A. (1986). Pathological gambling: Psychosomatic, emotional, and marital difficulties as reported by the gambler.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 2 40–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Politzer, R.M., Morrow, J.S., & Leavey, S.B. (1985). Report on the cost-benefit/effectiveness of treatment at the Johns Hopkins Center for Pathological Gambling.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 1 131–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rankin, H. (1982). Control rather than abstinence as a goal in the treatment of excessive gambling.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 20 185–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, R.J. (1987). The psychodynamics of pathological gambling: A review of the literature. In T. Galski (Ed.).The handbook of pathological gambling Springfield, IL: Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schutz, W. (1958).FIRO: A three-dimensional theory of interpersonal behavior. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taber, J.I., & Chaplin, M.P. (1988). Group psychotherapy with pathological gamblers.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 2 183–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tepperman, J.H. (1985). The effectiveness of short-term group therapy upon the pathological gambler and wife.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 1 119–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Victor, R.G., & Krug, C.M. (1967). Paradoxical intention in the treatment of compulsive gambling.American Journal of Psychotherapy, 21 808–814.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, G. (1985). The brief therapy of a compulsive gambler.Journal of Family Therapy, 7 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wildman, R.W. II (in press). Gambling. In L. L'Abate, J. Farrar & D. Serritella (Eds.)The addictions: Differential treatment.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

The material in this article was abstracted from the author's chapter on pathological gambling which was prepared forThe Addictions: Differential Treatments, edited by L'Abate, Farrar, and Serritella (in preparation).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wildman, R.W. Pathological gambling: Marital-familial factors, implications, and treatments. J Gambling Stud 5, 293–301 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01672430

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01672430

Keywords

Navigation