Nigel E. Turner

Development and validation of the Drug-Taking Confidence Questionnaire: A measure of coping self-efficacy☆

The Drug-Taking Confidence Questionnaire (DTCQ; Annis & Martin, 1985) is a 50-item self-report questionnaire developed to assess situation-specific coping self-efficacy for use of a particular substance of abuse (e.g., cocaine, heroin, alcohol, cannabis, etc.). Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the DTCQ on 713 clients seeking treatment at an addiction treatment facility provided strong evidence for the situation-specificity of efficacy beliefs. An 8-factor first-order model, based on the eight high-risk categories for relapse identified by G.A. Marlatt (Marlatt & Gordon, 1980) and a 3-factor second-order model (i.e., negative situations, positive situations, and temptation situations) provided the best fit to the data. All eight subscales of the DTCQ were shown to have good reliability (alphas .79 to .95). Extensive convergent and discriminant validity analyses for the DTCQ and its subscales in relation to ADS, DAST, OES, DRIE, SCQ, SCL-90R, BDI, HS, and SOCRATES substantiate that the DTCQ is a promising tool for further research and clinical application.

The Experience of Gambling and its Role in Problem Gambling

This paper reports on the results of a psychological study conducted in Ontario, Canada, that attempted to answer the question of why some people develop gambling problems while others do not. A group of social gamblers (n = 38), sub-clinical problem gamblers (n = 33) and pathological gamblers (n = 34) completed a battery of questionnaires. Compared to non-problem gamblers, pathological gamblers were more likely to report experiencing big wins early in their gambling career, stressful life events, impulsivity, depression, using escape to cope with stress and a poorer understanding of random events. We grouped these variables into three risk factors: cognitive/experiential, emotional and impulsive and tested the extent to which each risk factor could differentiate non-problem and pathological gamblers. Each risk factor correctly identified about three-quarters of the pathological gamblers. More than half (53%) of the pathological gamblers had elevated scores on all three risk factors. Interestingly, 60% of the sub-clinical cases had elevated scores on only one risk factor. The results are interpreted in terms of a bio-psycho-social model of gambling addiction.

Pathways to Pathological Gambling: Component Analysis of Variables Related to Pathological Gambling

This study used principal components analysis to examine the structure of variables associated with pathological gambling. A large battery of questionnaires was administered to a sample of 141 gamblers who ranged from non-problem gamblers to severe pathological gamblers. We found a significant relationship between severity of pathological gambling and various measures of impulsivity, depression, anxiety, erroneous beliefs, and reports of early wins. Component analysis of these variables found four distinct components: emotional vulnerability, impulsivity, erroneous beliefs, and the experiences of wins. Component scores based on these components were regressed onto pathological gambling. Emotional vulnerability had the largest effect (β = 0.54), followed by early wins (β = 0.32), erroneous beliefs (β = 0.31), and impulsivity (β = 0.23). The overall model accounted for 53.4% of the variance of pathological gambling. The findings confirm the idea that there may be several different risk factors that explain the development of pathological gambling.

The Relationship of Problem Gambling to Criminal Behavior in a Sample of Canadian Male Federal Offenders

This article examines the prevalence of moderate and severe problem gambling in a sample of 254 incarcerated Canadian male federal offenders (completion rate of 39.0%). The prevalence of disordered gambling was measured using the PGSI, DSM-IV-TR, and SOGS that yielded estimates of 9.4%, 6.3%, and 13.0%, respectively. Severe problem gamblers were significantly more likely to have committed income producing offences, but were neither more nor less likely than other offenders to have committed violent offences. The majority of severe problem gamblers (65.2%) and a fifth of the moderate problem gamblers (20.0%) reported that their criminal activity was a result of their gambling (e.g., to pay off debts). Based on these findings there appears to be a need to offer problem gambling treatment services to offenders in order to help them break the cycle of gambling, debt and crime.

Life Skills, Mathematical Reasoning and Critical Thinking: A Curriculum for the Prevention of Problem Gambling

Previous studies have shown that youth are two to three times more likely than adults to report gambling related problems. This paper reports on the development and pilot evaluation of a school-based problem gambling prevention curriculum. The prevention program focused on problem gambling awareness and self-monitoring skills, coping skills, and knowledge of the nature of random events. The results of a controlled experiment evaluating the students learning from the program are reported. We found significant improvement in the students’ knowledge of random events, knowledge of problem gambling awareness and self-monitoring, and knowledge of coping skills. The results suggest that knowledge based material on random events, problem gambling awareness and self-monitoring skills, and coping skills can be taught. Future development of the curriculum will focus on content to expand the students’ coping skill options.

Public Awareness of Responsible Gambling and Gambling Behaviours in Ontario

This study reports the findings of a general population telephone survey (N =2500) conducted in Ontario, which was designed to examine behaviour, knowledge and attitudes related to responsible and problem gambling using a combination of closed- and open-ended questions. When asked to identify ‘signs and symptoms of problem gambling’ or to define responsible gambling, most respondents focused on financial issues suggesting that the general population has a very narrow view of the issue of problem gambling. The majority (65.8%) are not aware of any initiatives to reduce problem gambling; however, we found that people who participate in slots and instant lotteries were more likely to report being aware of initiatives to reduce problem gambling. These findings suggest that people do notice the presence of the help-line number on tickets and slot machines. The survey also examined responsible gambling behaviour and biases in beliefs about gambling.

Factors Influencing Recovery from Different Addictions

This study deals with environmental and behavioural factors that play a role in the recovery from addictive behaviours. Two primary questions are asked: To what extent the factors influential in resolving addictive behaviours and the means of maintaining the change differ by addictions, and to what extent the former factors predict the latter? Subjects (n=76, 38 women) who had managed to resolve their addiction and maintain the change for more than three years were recruited by newspaper ads. The sample included addictions to alcohol (26), multiple substances (16), nicotine (15), binge eating (11), and other (8), which included sex, gambling and benzodiazepine. The mean time of recovery was 9.3 years. Two types of factor analyses were used to define factors that played a role in resolving the problem and in maintaining the change. Seven change factors and four maintenance factors were supported by both methods. The change factors were: Tiring Out, Love, 12 Steps, Revival, Family, Social Consequences, and ...

Recovery from problem gambling without formal treatment

Understanding the process by which problem gamblers recover without formal treatment may improve both formal treatments and assist those who wish to modify their gambling behavior without seeking treatment. Study 1 assessed the recovery process in problem gamblers who had recovered for at least 6 months without formal treatment from those who had recovered with the assistance of formal treatment. The treated recovered gamblers generally had a more severe gambling problem than did untreated recovered gamblers, as indicated by a long problem gambling career and more gambling-related negative consequences (e.g., family, health). Study 2 compared two samples of untreated gamblers, those who had recovered without treatment with a comparable sample of active gamblers who also had never received treatment. The active, untreated gamblers had higher lifetime rates of anxiety and personality disorder. Recovered gamblers may match the behaviorally conditioned problem gamblers as described in Blaszczynskis Pathways Model.

Adolescent Gambling Behaviour, Attitudes, and Gambling Problems

This paper reports on data relating to adolescent gambling, problem gambling and correlates of problem gambling. Participation was strongly tied to age, with only 39% of grade 5 students reporting gambling and over 80% of grade 11 reporting gambling. A large percentage of the gambling involvement was on noncommercial private bets such as card games, dice games, sports bets and games of skill. Interestingly most students rated gambling as less enjoyable than most other activities including reading. In general the students understood that gambling was mostly a matter of luck, however, the students had a very poor understanding of random chance. Problem gambling was negatively correlated with the effectiveness of coping skills and the student’s understanding of random chance. We also found an interaction between coping skills and knowledge, suggesting that the combination of poor coping skills and a poor understanding of random chance are particularly important in understanding adolescent problem gambling.

A Yoga Intervention for Posttraumatic Stress: A Preliminary Randomized Control Trial

Yoga may be effective in the reduction of PTSD symptomology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a Kundalini Yoga (KY) treatment on PTSD symptoms and overall wellbeing. To supplement the current field of inquiry, a pilot randomized control trial (RCT) was conducted comparing an 8-session KY intervention with a waitlist control group. 80 individuals with current PTSD symptoms participated. Both groups demonstrated changes in PTSD symptomology but yoga participants showed greater changes in measures of sleep, positive affect, perceived stress, anxiety, stress, and resilience. Between-groups effect sizes were small to moderate (0.09–0.25). KY may be an adjunctive or alternative intervention for PTSD. Findings indicate the need for further yoga research to better understand the mechanism of yoga in relation to mental and physical health, gender and ethnic comparisons, and short- and long-term yoga practice for psychiatric conditions.