Dropout or Early Treatment Response Among Gamblers with Depressive Symptoms

Many individuals who start psychotherapy for gambling disorder leave treatment within the first five sessions. Researchers have viewed early dropouts as treatment failures, but some may be early responders. This study examined dropout and early treatment response among those with probable depression in the first six therapy sessions of a gambling problem treatment program. The percentage of individuals who dropped out of treatment was 37%. Dropout was highest after the intake session and decreased at each subsequent session. We identified a group of early treatment responders who showed reduced depressive symptoms and improvement on gambling-related variables. This group made up about 12% of the total sample and about half of those traditionally viewed as in-treatment dropouts. Demographic and gambling history/behavior variables were not associated with early treatment response. Baseline depression severity, number of sessions attended, change scores for gambling’s interference with normal activities, and overall life satisfaction, as well as meeting one’s intake gambling-related treatment goal, were associated with early treatment response. Study findings suggest that some may be early treatment responders, even those who leave psychotherapy after the first few sessions.