A comparison of relapsed and non-relapsed abstinent pathological gamblers following behavioural treatment.

Eighteen pathological gamblers reporting abstinence at a 2-9-year follow-up period were classified into two samples; those reporting complete abstinence, or those abstinent with intermittent relapse episodes. Results indicated that both samples improved significantly on post-treatment psychological and demographic measures, and did not differ from each other. It was concluded that a subgroup of gamblers may experience intermittent brief relapses that are not invariably associated with a continued return to addictive gambling habits. Complete abstinence as a criterion for successful treatment outcome may be too stringent in that it fails to acknowledge the possibility of continued abstinence following brief episodes of relapse.