Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, Early View

Published Online: 29 July 2026, Doi:10.35365/ctjpp.26.3.26

CASE REPORT / OLGU SUNUMU

A Case Report on Gambling Disorder in the Context of Hopelessness and Values: A Narrative Therapy Intervention

 

Kumar Oynama Bozukluğu, Umutsuzluk ve Değerler Kapsamında Bir Vaka Raporu: Narrative Terapi Uygulaması

 

Hilal Aslan Deniz1 , Feyza Topçu2

Abstract:

In recent years, the increasing prevalence of gambling disorder has prompted mental health professionals to explore various treatment modalities. Although several therapeutic approaches have been proposed, there is still a lack of robust empirical evidence regarding their effectiveness. Intervention-based studies have emphasized the need to move beyond symptom reduction and behavioral control by incorporating multidimensional aspects of recovery, thereby highlighting the necessity for innovative therapeutic frameworks. This case report aims to describe and analyze the clinical story and therapeutic process of a 25-year-old male who was considered to have a gambling disorder due to repetitive engagement in online betting and who underwent treatment through the Narrative Therapy approach. The client’s symptoms were assessed using the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for gambling disorder, along with the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). The client was followed for over a year, during which 28 individual therapy sessions were conducted. This case report discusses the role of values and hopelessness within the context of Narrative-based psychotherapy. Narrative-specific techniques such as externalization and alternative story development are addressed in relation to diagnosis, intervention, and follow-up. Rather than aiming to eliminate the gambling behavior directly, the intervention focused on uncovering and engaging with the underlying values and hopes that drive such behaviors—underscoring a shift from pathology to meaning-making. Narrative Therapy offers practical and applicable techniques for addressing gambling disorder, especially by facilitating a value-oriented and individualized therapeutic process.

Keywords: Gambling disorder, Values, Hopelessness, Psychotherapy, Narrative therapy.

¹Hasan Kalyoncu University, Graduate Education Institute, Department of Psychology, Gaziantep, Türkiye.

2Hasan Kalyoncu University, Department of Psychology, Gaziantep, Türkiye

Address of Correspondence/Yazışma Adresi: Hilal Aslan Deniz, Hasan Kalyoncu University, Graduate Education Institute, Department of Psychology, 27010, Gaziantep, Türkiye, E-mail: [email protected].

Date of Received/Geliş Tarihi: 08.11.2025, Date of Revision/Düzeltme Tarihi: 01.05.2026, Date of Acceptance/Kabul Tarihi: 04.05.2026, Date of Online Publication/Çevrimiçi Yayın Tarihi: 03.08.2026

Citing/Referans Gösterimi: Deniz, H. A. & Topçu, F. (2026). A case report on gambling disorder in the context of hopelessness and values: A narrative therapy intervention. Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.35365/ctjpp. 26.3.26

© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Cyprus Mental Health Institute / Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology (www.ktppdergisi.com). This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/