The 8th annual GambleAware conference
Our CBDO Christofer Hagstedt joined the 8th annual GambleAware conference to talk about online CBT and its short and long term effects. Ana Hemmings, GamCare, and David Hollingsworth, Gordon Moody Association were also part of the discussion.
All parties agreed that the digitalisation, further forced by the pandemic, has shed a light on the positive effects of online treatment.
Short term, the effects of face-to-face and digital CBT are quite similar. Long term, research shows that digitised treatment appears to decrease the risk of relapse more than face-to-face or in-facility treatment.
The stigma around gambling addiction treatment makes digital treatment attractive as it allows for more anonymity and flexibility.
With the elimination of the need to travel to appointments and the constant availability of the digitised content, the threshold for completing treatment is significantly lowered.
Waiting lists are significantly shorter for online treatment than for treatment in facilities or face-to-face appointments. For someone in active addiction, this can be paramount for their motivation to start and complete their treatment.
A massive thank you to GambleAware for having us join in on the discussion, and even more so to those participating and asking questions to create a dynamic talk about this important and on-the-rise subject.
