“Bet you won't gamble anymore": Those interested will also receive a therapy offer.
Games of chance such as roulette can be addictive. Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH
Gambling such as sports betting or poker has a high potential for addiction: According to the “Gambling Atlas 2023”, 7.7 percent of all gamblers have a so-called gambling disorder, which means they are addicted or show high-risk gambling behavior. For people with gambling addiction, there is a treatment offer at the Hannover Medical School (MHH). The Clinic for Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy offers outpatient therapy.
The clinic is still looking for people interested in the new study “Wetten, du spielst nicht mehr” (Bet You Won't Gamble Anymore) – participation is also linked to therapy. The study is aimed at people who suspect that they have high-risk gambling behavior or who have already been diagnosed with an addiction (pathological gambling) and want to seek therapeutic help.
The study includes group therapy consisting of eight sessions of 100 minutes each. Before and after the therapy, various psychological tests will be carried out at two further appointments, combined with blood and saliva samples. The samples will later be used to examine the stress hormones, among other things. Participation in the study is closely linked to the therapy offer and is rewarded with an expense allowance of 50 euros.
Further information on the study and the conditions of participation can be obtained here or from Dr. Phileas Proskynitopoulos, email: proskynitopoulos.phileas@mh-hannover.de.
Text: Tina Götting