Lesson 1Motivation and readiness to change: stages of change, decisional balance, ambivalence explorationHere we look at checking a person's will and readiness to stop gambling, using steps of change, weighing good and bad sides, and digging into mixed feelings to give right advice, build trust, and time interventions properly.
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 bit checks wrong thinking about gambling like feeling in control, wrong chance ideas, lucky charms, and thinking you deserve to win, linking them to risky plays, keeping on after losses, and chance of falling back.
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 crisisWe detail checking dangers for gambling patients, covering suicide thoughts, rash actions, other drug use, home fights, and money troubles, plus making safety plans and knowing where to send for help.
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 explores family, culture, and community ways that affect gambling, like husband-wife issues, child-raising stress, money duties, shame, and church or village views, for checks that respect our ways.
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 disordersWe cover checking other mind health issues and telling them apart, like sad moods, worry sickness, attention problems, mood swings, character issues, and rash control problems, sorting main from side gambling signs.
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 shows how to do full talks on gambling, covering start, how often, what sets it off, chasing losses, and harms to money, law, work, and family to help diagnose and plan help.
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 patternsWe check what leads to gambling times, actions, results, and reward loops to find danger spots and things to change in personal 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 teaches getting and reading extra info from wives or kin, money papers, and phone betting records to confirm habits, measure harm, and spot hiding that affects case plans.
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-CWe go over main tests for gambling and side issues like SOGS, PGSI, DSM-5 lists, NODS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, AUDIT-C, with how to score and use in clinic work.
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 shows checking sleep, past hurts, and stress in gamblers, like no sleep, old wounds, work pressures, night shifts, and how they mix with urges, falls back, and treatment.
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
