Unsatisfied treatment needs of people with comorbid alcohol/drug use and gambling disorder

ABSTRACT

Background

People with comorbid alcohol/drug dependency and gambling disorder get worse results from treatment compared with patients with only one disorder. The treatment of individuals with comorbidities entails many difficulties because they receive the same treatment like everyone else despite studies showing that it is a heterogeneous group. This article identifies and discusses the unsatisfied treatment needs of people with comorbid alcohol/drug use and gambling disorder.

Methods

A qualitative perspective (individual interviews) was applied. Our sample comprised 65 respondents and included people with comorbidity of substance use (alcohol/drugs) and gambling disorders, and professionals who were employed in the treatment sector .

Results

Particular categories of need were identified, relating to dependence therapy, family relationships, and financial, legal and housing issues. The study did not engage with needs connected to counseling for employment problems, such as difficulties with finding or keeping a job or getting along with coworkers, but did identify other needs related to financial issues.

Conclusions

The unsatisfied treatment needs identified should be considered in designing therapeutic provision for people with comorbid alcohol/drug use and gambling disorder. This may trigger a greater acceptance of such provision and encourage individuals to seek treatment at earlier stage of dependence, as well as increase rates of retention in treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Comorbidity
• gambling disorder
• alcohol dependence
• drug dependence
• treatment

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical approval

Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from Bioethical Commission of the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology from Warsaw, Poland (ref. 16/2015) and procedures performed in the study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Notes

1. The method of coding: GA – People with comorbid alcohol disorders and gambling; GD – People with comorbid drug disorders and gambling; TA – Therapists employed in the alcohol treatment facilities; TN – Therapists employed in the drug treatment facilities; XXXX – Number of the interview; M – Male, F – Female; WRO – Wrocław, WAW – Warsaw; Y – Number of the interview conducted on the same day.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed by Found of Solving of Gambling Problems being in disposal of the Ministry of Health, Grant: 70/HE/2015, 4/HEK/2016.