Cognitive-behavioral treatment for adolescent pathological gamblers.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral treatment for adolescent pathological gamblers. Perception of control and severity of the problem served as dependent variables. Four adolescent pathological gamblers meeting DSM-III-R criteria were treated in a multiple baseline design across individuals. Results showed clinically significant changes for all subjects; they remained abstinent at 1-, 4-, and 6-month follow-ups. The clinical implications of these results are discussed.