Gambling disorder is a complex mental health problem caused by a wide spectrum of biological, psychological, and social risk factors. Effective treatment options for this disorder should be broad, adaptable, readily available, and economically viable, ensuring early intervention, sustained engagement, and lasting therapeutic benefits. Given its links to diminished quality of life and heightened suicide risk, efforts in identification, prevention, policy-making, and treatment are imperative for individuals with gambling disorder. By the end of this session, participants will gain insight into diagnostic considerations, neurobiological framework, and evidence-based treatment modalities for gambling disorder, alongside integrated approaches for relapse prevention, financial management, and addressing concurrent mental health or medical conditions.
Target Audience
If you are a pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or other health care professional involved in the comprehensive medication management of individuals living with mental health and/or substance use disorders, we invite you to participate in this online course.
Course Requirements
To receive ACPE credit for this session, you must:
- Register for this course.
- Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
- Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
- Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.
Faculty Information
View biographical information
Heather A. Chapman, PhD, ICGCII, BACC
Clinical Psychologist
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Cleveland, OH
Dr. Heather Chapman is a clinical psychologist, a National Certified Gambling Counselor and Board Certified Clinical Consultant for the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board, a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Council on Problem Gambling. She is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University, Deputy Director of the Veterans Addiction Recovery Center and the Director of the Gambling Treatment Program at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, the leader of gambling treatment, training consultation and research for the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. After 30 years of work in the gambling field, Dr. Chapman was recently honored by the National Council on Problem Gambling with The Robert Custer Lifetime Award for Direct Service to people struggling with gambling. Dr. Chapman’s aim, as a research practitioner, to help people struggling with gambling, developing interactive, and dynamic tools to assist and maintain change.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the neurobiology related to gambling disorder.
- Describe the diagnostic criteria and assessment tools used to evaluate gambling disorder.
- Recommend evidence-based treatment options for patients with gambling disorder.
- Identify resources and services that incorporate comprehensive strategies for relapse prevention, financial management, and management of co-morbid mental health or medical illnesses for patients with gambling disorder.
Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures
Activity Dates: 04/30/2025 - 04/30/2028
ACPE Contact Hours: 1
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-25-022-H01-P (Knowledge)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for ANCC Certification Renewal and AANPCB advanced practice provider content. For specific questions related to your organization's acceptance of ACPE continuing education units, please contact your organization directly.
The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
AAPP owns the copyright, is licensed or has received permissions for use of, or is otherwise permitted to use copyrighted materials within any CPE activity. Authors and speakers are required to obtain necessary copyright permissions for content in CPE activities. AAPP complies with copyright laws and regulations.
View disclaimer and disclosure of off-label use
Off-Label Use: This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA (see faculty information). The opinions expressed in the educational activity do not necessarily represent the views of AAPP and any educational partners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
Disclaimer: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
View fair balance and integrity statement
It is the policy of AAPP to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in continuing education activities. Those involved in the development of this continuing education activity have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of accreditation of this continuing education activity. Information regarding drugs (e.g., their administration, dosages, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, special warnings, and precautions) and drug delivery systems is subject to change, however, and the reader is advised to check the manufacturer’s package insert for information concerning recommended dosage and potential problems or cautions prior to dispensing or administering the drug or using the drug delivery systems.
Fair balance is achieved through ongoing and thorough review of all materials produced by faculty, and all educational and advertising materials produced by supporting organizations, prior to educational offerings. Approval of credit for this continuing education activity does not imply endorsement by AAPP for any product or manufacturer identified.