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A Pathways Approach to Treating Youth Gamblers

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Book cover Gambling Problems in Youth

Conclusion

The Pathways Model identifies clinically distinct subgroups of gamblers who exhibit common, overt cardinal symptoms, but who, at the same time, differ significantly with respect to premorbid psychopathology, childhood history, and neurobiological functioning. The model proposes a conceptual frame-work that integrates research data and clinical observation to provide a structure to assist clinicians in identifying and separating distinct subgroups of gamblers that require different management strategies. While all youth gamblers are subject to ecological variables, operant and classical conditioning and cognitive processes, differences between subgroups have significant implications for diagnosis and treatment. Pathway 1 youth gamblers are essentially normal in character but simply lose control over gambling in response to effects surrounding the probability of a win. In contrast, Pathway 2 gamblers are characterized by disturbed family and personal histories, affective instability, and poor coping and problem-solving skills. They gamble as a means of emotional escape and mood regulation. Finally, Pathway 3 gamblers exhibit biological vulnerability toward impulsivity and arousal-seeking, early onset of gambling, attentional deficits, antisocial traits, and poor response to treatment. Empirical research is needed to determine the relative proportion of youth in each pathway. However, identifying the appropriate pathway for youth gamblers by the characteristics presented should provide a practical and useful clinical guide that will ultimately improve the effectiveness of treatment interventions by refining diagnostic processes.

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Authors
  1. Lia Nower J.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Alex Blaszczynski Ph.D.
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Jeffrey L. Derevensky  & Rina Gupta  & 

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Nower, L., Blaszczynski, A. (2005). A Pathways Approach to Treating Youth Gamblers. In: Derevensky, J.L., Gupta, R. (eds) Gambling Problems in Youth. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48586-9_10

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