ABSTRACT
Objective: To validate the Gambling Follow-up Scale, Self-Report version (GFS-SR), a 10-item scale designed to assess gambling frequency, time and money spent on gambling, gambling craving, debts, emotional distress, family relationships, autonomy, and frequency of and satisfaction with leisure activities in individuals diagnosed with gambling disorder according to the DSM-5 criteria. Methods: One hundred and twenty treatment-seeking gamblers were evaluated, 84 of whom proceeded to treatment. Fifty-two relatives provided collateral informant reports at baseline. Six months later, the 50 patients who completed the program were reassessed. Results: The GFS-SR showed good inter-rater agreement and internal consistency. Factor analysis presented a three-factor solution: gambling behavior (factor 1); social life (factor 2); and personal hardship (factor 3). There was a high degree of convergence between GFS-SR scores and those of reference scales. The GFS-SR scores showed excellent sensitivity to change (factor 1), predictive validity for treatment response (factor 2), and ability to distinguish recovered from unrecovered patients after treatment (factor 3). A cutoff score of 33 was found to have 87% sensitivity and 80% specificity for gambling recovery. Conclusion: The GFS-SR is well suited to providing reliable follow-up of gamblers under treatment and assessing the efficacy of their treatment.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Psychotherapy/methods , Self Report , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Severity of Illness Index , Observer Variation , Reproducibility of Results , Follow-Up Studies , Gambling/diagnosis , Gambling/psychology , Gambling/therapyABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi conhecer o perfil e avaliar as características de jogadores patológicos que frequentavam clínicas e grupos especializados no tratamento desse problema, quanto à motivação para mudança de comportamento. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 69 sujeitos com diagnóstico de jogo patológico, segundo critérios diagnósticos do DSM-IV-TR. A amostra foi subdividida em dois grupos, conforme o tipo de tratamento: grupo em tratamento ambulatorial (TA) e grupo de jogadores anônimos (JA). Os instrumentos utilizados foram a University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA), a Régua de Prontidão e a South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). RESULTADOS: A análise dos resultados evidenciou que o grupo TA apresentou escore médio maior do que o do grupo JA tanto no estágio de pré-contemplação quanto no estágio de ação. Comparando os grupos TA e JA com relação ao tempo de abstinência, observou-se que o grupo de JA está associado a um tempo maior de abstinência do que o grupo de ambulatório. CONCLUSÃO: A importância de pesquisar estratégias que favoreçam a compreensão e a adesão aos tratamentos para jogadores patológicos é fundamental. A avaliação da motivação e dos estágios para mudança permite uma direção para o tratamento, auxiliando na elaboração de estratégias terapêuticas.
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the profile and the characteristics of pathological gamblers who attended clinics and groups specialized in the treatment of this problem, focusing on patients' motivation to change this behavior. METHOD: 69 subjects with a diagnosis of pathological gambling, according to diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV-TR were evaluated. The sample was divided in two groups according to treatment regimen: ambulatory care group and gamblers anonymous group (GA). The instruments used were the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA), the Ruler of Readiness and SOGS (South Oaks Gambling Screen). RESULTS: The results showed that the ambulatory group had a higher mean score than the GA group, both in the precontemplation stage and in the action stage. Comparing the group of ambulatory care and GA with regard to length of abstinence, it was observed that the group of GA is associated with a longer period of abstinence than the ambulatory group. CONCLUSION: The importance of searching strategies that enhance the understanding and treatment adherence for pathological gamblers is crucial. The evaluation of the motivation to change and the stages of change allow professionals to find a better direction for treatment, assisting in the development of therapeutic strategies.