McConaghy N, Armstrong M S, Blaszczynski A, Allcock C
Br J Psychiatry. 1983 Apr;142:366-72. doi: 10.1192/bjp.142.4.366.
Twenty compulsive gamblers were randomly allocated, half to receive aversion-relief therapy and half to receive imaginal desensitization; both groups were followed-up for one year. Compared with those who received aversion-relief, gamblers who received imaginal desensitization reported a significantly greater reduction of gambling urge and behaviour; they also showed a significant reduction in trait anxiety at one year and in state anxiety at one month and one year following treatment. A high level of state anxiety at one month following treatment predicted failure to respond to treatment at one year in the subjects who received imaginal desensitization, but not in those who received aversion-relief. The relationship between reduction in anxiety and in gambling urge in response to imaginal desensitization was predicted from the theory that compulsive gambling is driven by aversive tension.
20名强迫性赌徒被随机分配，一半接受厌恶缓解疗法，另一半接受想象脱敏疗法；两组均随访一年。与接受厌恶缓解疗法的人相比，接受想象脱敏疗法的赌徒报告称，赌博冲动和行为的减少幅度明显更大；他们在一年后的特质焦虑以及治疗后一个月和一年时的状态焦虑也有显著降低。治疗后一个月时高水平的状态焦虑预测了接受想象脱敏疗法的受试者在一年时对治疗无反应，但接受厌恶缓解疗法的受试者并非如此。根据强迫性赌博由厌恶紧张驱动的理论，预测了想象脱敏疗法后焦虑和赌博冲动减少之间的关系。
