To Gamble or Not to Gamble: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Treatment on Gambling Urges

Session Title

Poster session

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Start Date

27-5-2026 12:00 AM

Abstract

Gamblingurges (or cravings and desire) are associated with increased gambling disorder severity, gambling engagement, and relapse. However, little is known about how the most effective intervention for problem gambling and gambling disorder, cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT), affects urges. As such, the purpose of this poster was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis that examined the effectiveness of CBT on gambling urges. An open-access database of randomized clinical trials was used to identify studies for inclusion. Included trials were those that compared CBT to a minimal or no treatment control condition in adults with problem gambling or gambling disorder and used urges, cravings, or desire to gamble as an outcome. Between-groupHedges’s g effect sizes were calculated to examine the effect of CBT on urges at posttreatment relative to a minimal or no treatment control condition. Thirteen studies representing 664 participants were identified. Compared to control conditions, CBT significantly decreased urges (k= 13,n= 332), g = -0.76, 95% CI = [-1.08, -0.43] at posttreatment.

Author Bios

Brianna Morelli is a first-year clinical psychology doctoral student at The University of Memphis, conducting research in the Tennessee Recovery and Effective Addiction Treatment Lab. Her interests include gambling disorder treatment effectiveness and gambling-related cognitive distortions.

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May 27th, 12:00 AM

To Gamble or Not to Gamble: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Treatment on Gambling Urges

Gamblingurges (or cravings and desire) are associated with increased gambling disorder severity, gambling engagement, and relapse. However, little is known about how the most effective intervention for problem gambling and gambling disorder, cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT), affects urges. As such, the purpose of this poster was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis that examined the effectiveness of CBT on gambling urges. An open-access database of randomized clinical trials was used to identify studies for inclusion. Included trials were those that compared CBT to a minimal or no treatment control condition in adults with problem gambling or gambling disorder and used urges, cravings, or desire to gamble as an outcome. Between-groupHedges’s g effect sizes were calculated to examine the effect of CBT on urges at posttreatment relative to a minimal or no treatment control condition. Thirteen studies representing 664 participants were identified. Compared to control conditions, CBT significantly decreased urges (k= 13,n= 332), g = -0.76, 95% CI = [-1.08, -0.43] at posttreatment.