Lesson 1Motivation and readiness to change: stages of change, decisional balance, ambivalence explorationThis section addresses assessment of motivation and readiness to change, using stages of change, decisional balance, and exploration of ambivalence to tailor feedback, enhance engagement, and plan appropriate intervention intensity and timing for our clients.
Applying stages of change to gambling behaviorUsing decisional balance to map pros and consExploring ambivalence with motivational skillsAssessing confidence, importance, and readinessAligning interventions with change stageLesson 2Assessment of cognitive distortions and beliefs: illusion of control, gambler’s fallacy, superstitions, entitlement beliefsThis section focuses on assessing gambling-related cognitive distortions, including illusion of control, gambler’s fallacy, superstitions, and entitlement beliefs, and links these beliefs to risk-taking, persistence in losses, and relapse vulnerability in everyday life.
Screening for common gambling thinking errorsAssessing illusion of control and skill beliefsIdentifying gambler’s fallacy and near-miss biasExploring superstitions and magical thinkingEvaluating entitlement and rescue fantasiesLesson 3Risk assessment: suicidality, impulsivity, comorbid substance use, family violence, financial crisisThis section details structured risk assessment for clients with gambling disorder, including suicidality, self-harm, impulsivity, comorbid substance use, family violence, and financial crisis, and outlines safety planning and referral pathways we can use.
Screening for suicidality and self-harm riskAssessing impulsivity and disinhibition factorsEvaluating substance use and intoxication riskIdentifying family violence and safeguarding needsAssessing financial crisis and urgent supportsLesson 4Cultural and family context: marital dynamics, parenting stressors, financial roles, religious or community beliefs about gamblingThis section explores cultural, family, and community contexts that shape gambling behaviour, including marital dynamics, parenting stress, financial roles, stigma, and religious or community beliefs, to ensure culturally responsive assessment in Ghanaian settings.
Mapping family structure and financial rolesAssessing marital conflict and trust erosionExploring parenting stress and caregiving strainUnderstanding cultural and religious views on gamblingAddressing stigma and community expectationsLesson 5Assessment of comorbidity and differential diagnosis: mood disorders, anxiety disorders, ADHD, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, impulse-control disordersThis section covers assessment of psychiatric comorbidity and differential diagnosis, including mood, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar, personality, and impulse-control disorders, and how to distinguish primary from secondary gambling-related symptoms effectively.
Screening for mood and anxiety disordersAssessing ADHD and executive dysfunctionIdentifying bipolar spectrum presentationsEvaluating personality and impulse-control issuesDistinguishing primary from secondary symptomsLesson 6Comprehensive clinical interview: gambling history, onset, frequency, triggers, financial and legal consequencesThis section outlines how to conduct a comprehensive clinical interview focused on gambling, including onset, course, frequency, losses, triggers, chasing, and associated financial, legal, occupational, and relational harms to support diagnosis and treatment planning.
Structuring the initial diagnostic interviewExploring onset, course, and escalation of gamblingAssessing frequency, duration, and preferred activitiesEvaluating financial, legal, and occupational harmsAssessing relationship and caregiving consequencesLesson 7Functional assessment of gambling episodes: antecedents, behaviors, consequences, reinforcement patternsThis section covers functional assessment of gambling episodes, mapping antecedents, behaviours, and consequences to identify reinforcement patterns, high-risk situations, and modifiable maintaining factors that can be targeted in individualised treatment plans.
Identifying internal and external antecedentsMapping gambling behaviors step by stepDocumenting short- and long-term consequencesAnalyzing positive and negative reinforcement cyclesUsing functional data to design interventionsLesson 8Collateral information and records: partner interview, financial statements, app/online betting logsThis section explains how to gather and interpret collateral information from partners, family, financial records, and digital betting data to verify gambling patterns, quantify harm, and detect concealment or fraud that may affect case formulation.
Planning and obtaining informed consent for collateralPartner and family interviews about gambling impactReviewing bank, credit, and debt documentationAnalyzing betting apps, online logs, and statementsReconciling self-report with objective collateral dataLesson 9Standardized screening tools and measures: SOGS, PGSI, DSM-5 criteria checklist, NODS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, AUDIT-CThis section reviews key standardised screening and assessment tools for gambling and common comorbidities, including SOGS, PGSI, DSM-5 checklists, NODS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and AUDIT-C, with guidance on scoring and clinical integration.
Selecting appropriate gambling screening toolsAdministering SOGS, PGSI, and NODSUsing DSM-5 criteria checklists in practiceScreening mood and anxiety with PHQ-9 and GAD-7Assessing alcohol risk with AUDIT-CLesson 10Sleep, trauma, and stress assessment: insomnia, trauma history, occupational stressors and shift work effectsThis section explains how to assess sleep, trauma, and stress in people with gambling disorder, including insomnia, trauma history, occupational stressors, and shift work, and how these factors interact with urges, relapse, and treatment response.
Screening for insomnia and sleep disruptionExploring trauma history and PTSD symptomsAssessing occupational stress and job strainEvaluating shift work and circadian disruptionLinking stress, sleep, and gambling relapse
