This study is the 24-month follow up of the initial trial to investigate the longer-term outcome of two interventions: (1) a face-to-face 10-session combined cognitive and cue exposure therapy (CBT), and (2) a six-session Motivational Interviewing intervention that comprised one face-to-face session, a self-help workbook, and five ‘booster’ telephone sessions (MI+W+B).

This study (n=78) showed that both a relatively low intensity CBT and a MI+W+B intervention, applied in a real-world community gambling treatment service, have benefitted some people, with reduced gambling behaviour and improved quality of life, maintained after two years. Alongside improved gambling behaviours were reduced negative effects from gambling, and improvements in mental health and quality of life.

The maintenance of the improvements from pre-treatment is reassuring, with overall participants reported improved functioning two years later. However, results should be interpreted with caution and may not reflect the true long-term outcomes of the two interventions due to the high dropout rates and low sample size at the 24-month assessment, as well as potential statistical regression to the mean.