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Review

Help-seeking behaviour of problem gamblers: a narrative review

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1024/0939-5911/a000560

Abstract.Background: There is evidence for low rates of help-seeking among problem gamblers. Identifying reasons for and barriers to seeking help is essential for improving help supply and gamblers’ treatment utilisation. The present study examines treatment utilisation of problem or pathological gamblers and reviews the evidence related to motives for and barriers to seeking help. Methods: The databases Medline, PsycInfo, and PubMed were searched for English-, Swedish- and German-language studies published between 2000 and 2017. Furthermore relevant references of included studies were analysed. Results: After exclusion of non-relevant publications 34 journal articles and seven reports covering the prevalence of help-seeking among gamblers or self-reported reasons for/barriers to help-seeking were maintained. The proportion of problem gamblers seeking help was less than 10 % in most studies. Problem severity was found positively associated with treatment attendance. Financial issues, negative emotions and crises were identified as main motives for seeking treatment. Main barriers to seeking treatment were shame, problem denial and lack of treatment availability. The results were similar across the examined studies. Conclusion: Low rates of treatment utilisation by problem gamblers strongly indicate that treatment providers and the society should strive to eliminate structural barriers that hinder gamblers to seek help. To better match problem gamblers´ needs, low-threshold early intervention, increasing knowledge of treatment options and efforts to reduce stigmatisation are important strategies to enhance access to help offers.


Inanspruchnahme von Hilfe durch Personen mit problematischem Glücksspielverhalten: Eine narrative Literaturübersicht

Zusammenfassung.Zielsetzung: Trotz gravierender Auswirkungen pathologischen Glückspielens nimmt nur ein geringer Anteil der Betroffenen Hilfe in Anspruch. Eine angemessene Versorgung von Personen mit Glücksspielproblemen erfordert Wissen über Motive und Hindernisse der Inanspruchnahme von Hilfe. Die vorliegende Literaturstudie gibt einen Überblick über den Anteil der Glücksspieler, die Hilfe suchen und berichtet zentrale Forschungsergebnisse zu Motiven und Hindernisse der Inanspruchnahme von Hilfe. Methodik: Die Literatursuche für den Publikationszeitraum 2000–2017 wurde überwiegend in den Datenbanken Medline, PsycInfo und PubMed durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: In die Literaturübersicht wurden 34 Zeitschriftenartikel sowie sieben Berichte aufgenommen, die Prävalenzraten der Inanspruchnahme von Hilfe oder diesbezügliche selbstberichtete Motive beziehungsweise Barrieren der Spielenden beschreiben. Nur ein geringer Anteil der problematischen Glücksspieler nahm Hilfe in Anspruch, in den meisten Studien lag der Anteil unter 10 %. Es zeigte sich ein positiver Zusammenhang zwischen Problemschwere und Inanspruchnahme von Hilfe. Die von den Glücksspielern berichteten Motive waren insbesondere finanzielle Gründe, negative Emotionen und Krisen. Diesen wirkten Stigmatisierung, Scham, Leugnen des Problems sowie schlechte Erreichbarkeit als Hindernisse entgegen. Die Ergebnisse wiesen über die Studien hinweg eine hohe Konsistenz auf. Schlussfolgerungen: Die geringe Inanspruchnahme von Hilfe durch Personen mit Glücksspielproblemen zeigt, dass es der Beseitigung entsprechender Hindernisse bedarf. Hierzu zählen insbesondere die Reduktion der Stigmatisierung von Glücksspielern, die Verbesserung des Wissens über Hilfsangebote und der Zugang zu diesen.

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