COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF GAMBLING DISORDER ASSOCIATED WITH ONLINE BETTING: APPROACHES DRAWN FROM INTERVENTIONS USED IN SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE

Abstract

The growth of online sports betting platforms has given rise to new forms of psychological distress, bringing behavioral addictions closer to substance dependence in terms of the mechanisms of compulsion, tolerance, and withdrawal. In this context, the question arises as to how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies, traditionally applied to the treatment of substance dependence, can be used to address online gambling addiction. The general objective of this study was to investigate this possibility, with the specific objectives of describing CBT techniques used in the treatment of substance dependence, discussing their applicability to online gambling addiction, and identifying the adaptations required for this context. The theoretical framework was based on authors such as Laranjeira and Zanelatto (2013) and Fuentes et al. (2014), as well as recent literature on gambling disorder and the regulation of betting in Brazil. A narrative literature review was conducted, with searches in the SciELO and PePSIC databases, covering articles published in Portuguese over the previous five years. The findings indicate consistent clinical similarities between the two conditions and support the feasibility of adapting CBT techniques, such as cognitive restructuring, relapse prevention, and coping skills training, to the specific characteristics of the digital environment.