A Comment: Positive Play is a Subset of Responsible Gambling.

Confronted with criticisms focused on the nature of Responsible Gambling (RG), this article suggests that Positive Play (PP) is a conceptual subset of Responsible Gambling and not a fully developed and independent harm prevention or reduction framework. To advance public health initiatives and focus public policy. This article reviews and clarifies some of the confusing and subtle difference between Responsible Gambling and Positive Play.

A warning about measurement and methodological issues associated with coronavirus tracking and evaluation across jurisdictions.

As people around the world experience a devastating pandemic, it is critical that policy-makers consider the methodological and measurement issues that might be associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health indicators. This commentary uses four primary variables to illustrate measurement and methodological issues that can complicate comparisons between jurisdictions. Jurisdiction refers to a variety of geographic areas, such as a country, a state, or a province/territory.

Moving Away from Individual Responsibility: A Comment.

In this comment, we suggest there has been a crusade among some gambling stakeholders to move the field away from personal responsibility influences and toward social setting effects. This perspective disproportionally attributes gambling-related negative consequences to the social setting rather than the gambler. We argue that personal responsibility is a pivotal issue during the emotional maturation of healthy adults and remains essential to understanding intemperate gambling.

Imaged-guided and muscle sparing laparoscopic anorectoplasty using real-time magnetic resonance imaging.

A challenge when repairing imperforate anus is positioning the neo-rectum into the center of the sphincter muscle complex (SMC) with limited muscle injury and scarring. Unfortunately, the path through the components of the SMC are often non-linear. We have used MRI to delineate the complex and guide the needle through the center using standard MRI-guidance (Raschbaum GR et al.

Gambling Research and Industry Funding.

This paper discusses the relationship between investigative credibility and the sources of funding associated with gambling research. Some researchers argue against accepting funding from gambling industry sources; similarly, they decline to participate in activities directly or indirectly sponsored by gambling industry sources. In contrast, these anti-industry investigators evidence less resistance toward accepting funds from sources other than industry, for example, governments, because they believe that they have greater independence, reliability, and validity, and less undue influence and/or interference.

Correction to: Gambling Research and Funding Biases.

Unfortunately, the original publication contains errors. The authors would like to correct the errors.

Gambling Research and Funding Biases.

A recent systematic review of the responsible gambling research suggests that there are no significant differences between gambling industry and non-industry funded research with regard to research design and outcomes. This study empirically synthesizes the outcomes of a larger sample of the scientific gambling literature to determine the generalizability of these original results. Our goal was to determine the extent to which funding sources might differentially influence characteristics of research design and outcomes.

Responsible Gambling Research and Industry Funding Biases.

This brief report examines whether there are differences in aspects of different characteristics, including design/methodologies of responsible gambling (RG), between studies funded by industry as compared to other sources. To investigate this, the authors used those studies included in a recent meta-analysis focusing on the empirical basis of RG initiatives (Ladouceur et al. in Addict Res Theory 25:225-235, 2017).

Efficacy of a Self-Help Treatment for At-Risk and Pathological Gamblers.

Available evidence suggests that self-help treatments may reduce problem gambling severity but inconsistencies of results across clinical trials leave the extent of their benefits unclear. Moreover, no self-help treatment has yet been validated within a French Canadian setting. The current study therefore assesses the efficacy of a French language self-help treatment including three motivational telephone interviews spread over an 11-week period and a cognitive-behavioral self-help workbook.

Development of an operative suspension system for the performance of MRI-OR-guided laparoscopic anoplasty.

Background: MRI-guided laparoscopic assisted anorectoplasty (MRI-LAARP), a new approach for surgical correction of high imperforate anus, does not bisect the sphincter complex as in the PSARP and is able to pull the neorectum through the entire sphincter complex unlike the LAARP. There is no available MRI-compatible device to position and transport patients during this procedure. We report on the design of such a device here.

Extending the RENO model: Clinical and ethical applications.

The RENO Model, first published during 2004, described a science-based framework of responsible gambling principles for a range of industry operators, health service providers, community and consumer groups, and governments. These strategic principles serve as a guide for the adoption and implementation of responsible gambling and harm-minimization initiatives. This article extends the RENO Model core principles by describing how to apply these strategies to clinical practice.

Can an intervention based on a serious videogame prior to cognitive behavioral therapy be helpful in bulimia nervosa? A clinical case study.

Background: Several studies have highlighted the implications of impulsivity and novelty seeking for both the maintenance and the process of recovery from bulimia nervosa (BN). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the treatment of choice for BN, but for some cases, this treatment alone might not be sufficient for reducing the high levels of impulsivity. The paper presents a case report of a patient with BN, examining the effectiveness of using a videogame (VG; Playmancer) as an additional intervention designed to address impulsivity.

Cognitive versus exposure therapy for problem gambling: Randomised controlled trial.

Background: Problem gambling-specific cognitive therapy (CT) and behavioural (exposure-based) therapy (ET) are two core cognitive-behavioural techniques to treating the disorder, but no studies have directly compared them using a randomised trial.

Aims: To evaluate differential efficacy of CT and ET for adult problem gamblers at a South Australian gambling therapy service.

Methods: Two-group randomised, parallel design.

Two-group randomised, parallel trial of cognitive and exposure therapies for problem gambling: a research protocol.

Background: Problem gambling is a serious public health concern at an international level where population prevalence rates average 2% or more and occurs more frequently in younger populations. The most empirically established treatments until now are combinations of cognitive and behavioural techniques labelled cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). However, there is a paucity of high quality evidence for the comparative efficacy of core CBT interventions in treating problem gamblers.

Internet-based CBT intervention for gamblers in Finland: experiences from the field.

From September 2007 to May 2011 a total of 471 participants (325 males and 146 females) signed up for an 8-week Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy offered for gamblers in Finland. Sixty-four percent of the participants were pathological gamblers (PGs) (NODS 5> points), 14% were problem gamblers (NODS 3-4 points) and 10% were at risk of gambling problems (NODS 1-2 points). Two hundred and twenty four participants completed the treatment and after the treatment period significant changes were found in the following variables: gambling related problems (NODS), gambling urge, impaired control of gambling, alcohol consumption (AUDIT-C), social consequences, gambling-related cognitive erroneous thoughts and depression (MARD-S).

[Prevalence of gambling habits in Gaspésie and Îles-de-la-Madeleine in 2009].

Unlabelled: OBJECTIF : Estimer la prévalence des habitudes aux jeux de hasard et d'argent (JHA), du jeu à risque (JAR) et du jeu pathologique probable (JPP) dans la région de la Gaspésie et des Îles-de-la-Madeleine (GIM) (Québec). MÉTHODE : Un sondage téléphonique portant sur les habitudes de jeu a été réalisé auprès de 1014 adultes résidents de la région de la GIM. Les participants ont été sélectionnés aléatoirement.

Responsible gambling: general principles and minimal requirements.

Many international jurisdictions have introduced responsible gambling programs. These programs intend to minimize negative consequences of excessive gambling, but vary considerably in their aims, focus, and content. Many responsible gambling programs lack a conceptual framework and, in the absence of empirical data, their components are based only on general considerations and impressions.

Cardiovascular burden and related risk factors among Nunavik (Quebec) Inuit: insights from baseline findings in the circumpolar Inuit health in transition cohort study.

Background: The Inuit are commonly portrayed to be somehow protected from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) through their traditional lifestyle and diet. However, actual sociocultural transition and related major, modifiable risk factors have scarcely been quantified in the Inuit population. Such knowledge is extremely valuable in terms of public health intervention.

A randomized clinical trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy and applied relaxation for adults with generalized anxiety disorder.

This randomized clinical trial compared cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), applied relaxation (AR), and wait-list control (WL) in a sample of 65 adults with a primary diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The CBT condition was based on the intolerance of uncertainty model of GAD, whereas the AR condition was based on general theories of anxiety. Both manualized treatments were administered over 12 weekly 1-hour sessions.

Impact of visiting an Onsite Casino information centre on perceptions about randomness and gambling behaviours.

At the beginning of 2000, some educational initiatives in the field of responsible gambling resulted in the implementation of Onsite Casino Information Centres (OCICs). However, no study has yet empirically evaluated the impact of visiting an OCIC. This paper includes two studies evaluating the OCIC Au Centre du Hasard, located in Montreal, Quebec.

[The impact of a verbal consent form on the participation rate in a telephone survey].

Objective: To assess the impact of a consent form on the participation rate in a telephone survey about gambling and money.

Method: Four different consent forms were tested. The first consent form globally met the academic ethics committee requirements, while the second and third forms excluded some elements.

Is control a viable goal in the treatment of pathological gambling?

According to a report of National Gambling Impact Study Commission (National Gambling Impact Study Commission (1999). Final report. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

Improved self-exclusion program: preliminary results.

The gambling industry has offered self-exclusion programs for quite a long time. Such measures are designed to limit access to gaming opportunities and provide problem gamblers with the help they need to cease or limit their gambling behaviour. However, few studies have empirically evaluated these programs.

Links between casino proximity and gambling participation, expenditure, and pathology.

Two studies investigated the relationship between casino proximity and gambling participation, expenditure, and pathology. In Study 1, 8,842 participants were categorized into 1 of 4 driving distances from their home to the nearest casino in the province of Quebec: 0-100 km, 100.01-200 km, 200.

Evaluation of intolerance of uncertainty: development and validation of a new self-report measure.

Intolerance of uncertainty represents an important risk factor for development of anxiety disorders. However, few measures have been developed in order to evaluate this construct. Four studies were conducted in order to validate a new instrument evaluating intolerance of uncertainty: the Intolerance of Uncertainty Inventory (IUI).