Treatment Study for Problematic Gaming and Gambling

The treatment consists of three parts: 1) setting goals, 2) understanding and identifying high-risk situations and problem behaviors, and 3) consolidating the new activity schedule and identifying future high-risk behaviors. The first part is focused on examining the patient's undesirable behavior, his/her motivation for change, and establishing goals with the. The second part, drawing more from traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques, consists of exploring problematic situations, identifying high-risk situations and events, emotions and cognitions that induce the problematic gaming behavior or result in a relapse; managing game time with activity scheduling and practicing problem-solving skills. The final part consists of recognizing early warning signals that may indicate that the primary problem behavior is more likely to occur and consolidating the parts of the treatment that have been most helpful in maintaining the new activity schedule.

This group will receive treatment as usual at their Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic.