Recovery and Relapse in Online Gambling Disorder: A Meta-Analysis of Thai and International Literature
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Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize empirical evidence on recovery and relapse in online gambling disorder and compare differences between Thai and international populations. The research was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, searching studies from major databases between 2010-2025 including PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and Thai databases. Study quality was assessed using RoB 2 and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results from 42 studies involving 15,847 participants revealed that recovery rates showed a continuous declining trend from 68.4% at 6 months to 51.2% at 12 months and 42.7% at 24 months. Relapse rates increased from 31.6% at 6 months to 48.8% at 12 months and 57.3% at 24 months. Comparison between Thai and international populations showed that Thai studies demonstrated higher initial recovery rates (74.8% vs 66.7%) but lower long-term maintenance (38.1% vs 44.2% at 24 months). Blended interventions showed superior effectiveness (67.3% at 12 months) compared to cognitive behavioral therapy alone (49.2%). Cultural factors, family support, and religious practices were more significant predictors in Thai populations. The findings highlight the influence of cultural factors on recovery and relapse in online gambling disorder. Developing culturally adapted blended interventions shows promise for improving treatment outcomes and emphasizes the need for long-term support systems and culturally sensitive approaches in treating online gambling disorder.
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References
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