In order to provide individuals (and loved ones of individuals) who struggle with gambling behavior with confidence in seeking counseling, Kindbridge maintains a “Does Gambling Therapy Work?” series of articles that looks at recent treatment outcomes. After all, as America’s foremost virtual counseling platform for problem gambling, we are staffed with specialists in the field and are beholden to let the public know that there is a place to turn to for effective support.
Confidence in our service is built from success rates. In our last edition (view here) we analyzed client Engagement rates for Q2 of the most recent annum (2025). Engagement generally refers to how often clients participate in treatment or services, their active involvement, commitment, and emotional connection to the therapeutic process. View specifics of the self-report assessment provided by Kindbrigde, and recent results indicating the effectiveness of gambling treatment, right here.
In this edition, however, we focus attention to mental health concerns that are known to cooccur with problem gambling. These include the following:
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) | Anger and Irritability |
| Anxiety and Stress | Bipolar Disorder |
| Depression | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) |
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Schizophrenia |
| Suicidal Ideation | Substance Abuse |
In understanding this, clients who exhibit any one (or combination of) the above learn that in order to treat their problematic gambling, clinicians must also seek to treat applicable cooccurring mental health issues. Determining success means seeing a reduction in scores for related issues.
While comorbidities exist in varying degrees in varying populations who struggle with gambling behavior, depression, anxiety, and stress are generally dominant factors. For this reason, Kindbridge employs the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) to help assess the effectiveness of problem gambling treatment.
The DASS-21 is a 21-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure the severity of symptoms for depression, anxiety, and stress in adults. Individuals rate how often they experienced symptoms over the past assessment period, using a 4-point Likert-scale that allows them to indicate responses such as “Did not apply to me at all” to “Applied to me very much or most of the time”, although the form itself typically features parred down versions of Never (0), Sometimes (1), Often (3), Almost Always (4). The values are tabulated to determine outcomes of treatment for depression, anxiety, and stress. Plainly stated, determination of success in problem gambling treatment is partially marked by reductions in DASS-21 scores.
With a clearer picture of what DASS-21 in the context of problem gambling treatment is, and how it is measured, we now look to the results of the most recent Treatment Outcomes (Q2, 2025) for Kindbridge Behavioral Health clients who have entered into problem gambling counseling.
Q2 2025 Report on Client Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Scores Indicate Positive Outcomes for Those in Counseling for Problem Gambling
The table below shows the four scales used in measuring DASS-21 scores, taken over five separate assessments (during Q2 of 2025) of KBH clients in counseling for problem gambling.
*Scores below are approximations, rounded to the nearest value.
| RESPONSE | Assessment 1 Score | Assessment 2 Score | Assessment 3 Score | Assessment 4 Score | Assessment 5 Score |
| Depression | *14 | *12 | *4 | 0 | 0 |
| Anxiety | *8 | *6 | *1 | 0 | 0 |
| Stress | *14 | *14 | *5 | 0 | 0 |
Scores declined significantly from Assessment 1 through 4 and maintained through to Assessment 5. Clients receiving gambling-specific services experienced marked reductions in psychological distress.
Interested in learning more about our counseling services? Do you have additional questions about how we will measure your treatment progress? Or, are you ready to move forward with counseling, beginning with a FREE assessment for problem gambling and potentially cooccurring issues? Reach out via your preferred form of contact provided below.
Get Immediate and Effective Problem Gambling Support
CALL +1 (877) 426-4258
OR
Email help@kindbridge.com
