Mindfulness-based interventions for gambling disorder: a systematic review

Tannous, A, Demetrovics, Z, Chhabra, B, Logemann, A, Czakó, A, Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524 and Szabo, A, 2026. Mindfulness-based interventions for gambling disorder: a systematic review. Journal of Behavioral Addictions. ISSN 2062-5871

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Abstract

Background and Aims: Gambling disorder (GD) presents significant psychological, financial, and social consequences. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have emerged as promising adjunctive treatments. However, the evidence base remains heterogeneous. The present systematic review evaluated the current empirical literature on MBIs for GD, focusing on their efficacy, methodological quality, and limitations.

Methods: Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, and PsycINFO were searched for English-language studies published between 2012 and April 2025. The final sample comprised 12 studies: five randomized controlled trials, one controlled pilot study, two repeated-measures studies, one mixed-methods study, and three single-group pretest–posttest studies. A narrative synthesis evaluated MBI impacts.

Results: MBIs consistently reduced gambling frequency and cravings while enhancing psychological outcomes. Studies combining mindfulness with cognitive behavioral therapy showed significant declines in problem gambling behavior. Psychological distress and cravings also decreased notably across interventions. The mindfulness components employed varied in focus and application, adding nuance to outcome interpretation. However, it remains unclear to what extent the observed effects can be attributed to mindfulness-specific mechanisms.

Discussion and Conclusions: MBIs show promise as a complementary treatment for gambling disorders, although small sample sizes and methodological limitations suggest a need for more robust research.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Behavioral Addictions
Creators:	Tannous, A., Demetrovics, Z., Chhabra, B., Logemann, A., Czakó, A., Griffiths, M.D. and Szabo, A.
Publisher:	Akademiai Kiado Zrt.
Date:	3 February 2026
ISSN:	2062-5871
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1556/2006.2025.00100 DOI 2570500 Other
Rights:	© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited, a link to the CC License is provided, and changes – if any – are indicated.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Borcherds
Date Added:	06 Feb 2026 16:51
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2026 16:51
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/55206

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