CERG Public Lecture | Internet and Mobile-based Interventions | Prof M. Schaub

In many countries around the world, there are few specialized services for gamblers disorders. Usually, these are only available in larger cities and in psychiatric hospitals, and their barriers to entry are high. But even in general, problem or pathological gamblers often do not seek treatment until their psychological, financial and/or social problems are already well advanced. Internet- and mobile-intervention-based (IMI) therapies offer new opportunities in terms of better accessibility, early intervention, and great potential for scale-up. This presentation will provide an overview of the possibilities, opportunities, and risks of IMIs in the area of problem or pathological gambling. Moreover, a first meta-analysis and two currently evaluated examples will be presented, focusing in particular on co-occurring mental disorders and tobacco smoking.

Dr Michael Patrick Schaub is Associate Professor at the University of Zurich, psychotherapist and Scientific Director of the Swiss Research Institute of Public Health and Addiction ISGF, a WHO Collaborating Centre, associated with the University of Zurich. One of his main focus is on Internet- and mobile-based interventions for the reduction of substance use and substance use disorders as well as for the prevention and treatment of behavioural addictions. Dr. Schaub has published over 250 peer-reviewed research papers in the field and is an international expert on digitization processes in addiction prevention as well as in substance use disorder and behavioural addictions treatment organizations.