Innovative treatment approaches in gambling disorder

Excessive gambling behavior is a complex psychopathological phenomenon, characterized by the interaction of multiple etiological factors and by a very heterogeneous symptomatological expression. To date, there are no existing evidence-based “best practice” treatment standards for gambling disorder. Healthcare providers and clinicians are further challenged by the difficulty in reaching out to individuals suffering from gambling problems. Despite a surge of empirical studies on various therapeutic approaches addressing disordered gambling, there is an urgent need for the development of suitable and cost-effective helping tools. This chapter presents a narrative overview of recent advances in the development of and research on innovative treatment approaches and treatment modalities for gambling problems, ranging from training interventions based on addiction models, such as Cognitive Bias Modification and general cognitive training programs; neuromodulation techniques, and employment of modern digital technology to promote large-scale support services and overcome treatment barriers, to personalization of existing interventions to individual and culture-based characteristics and preferences, and integration of multiple methods. Each section of this chapter presents existing preliminary evidence for such novel treatment approaches in the domain of disordered gambling and, when not available, results in the broader field of addictive behaviors. Altogether, these novel venues of research on gambling interventions share the goal of enhancing therapeutic effects and overcoming barriers and limitations to existing treatment programs by meeting the heterogeneous needs and demands of this peculiar clinical population.