Challenges and Opportunities in Developing Systems to Assist Patients in Recovering from Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction is marked by compulsive gambling behaviors despite negative consequences in patients’ financial and social well-being. We conducted a needs assessment study and identified current difficulties to self-monitor gambling behaviors using existing technology solutions, as well as the gap to incorporate family supports in the system design. We then proposed a preliminary system design to make the information sharing among patients and family members possible by designing easy-to-use interfaces for self-reporting that allow patients’ positive interpretations, facilitating micro-sharing for family members to bring in early supports, and incorporating treatment teams knowledge of gambling addiction to interpret collected data.