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The study assessed treatment expectations (TE) of outpatients with substance use problems as well as factors that affect their TE. Participants were 200 outpatients presenting at three community based substance abuse treatment services. Results of general linear modelling analyses showed that outpatients with substance use problems have higher expectations about their personal contribution to the counseling process (i.e., expected to be motivated, open and responsible in counseling) and the facilitative conditions that exist in the counseling environment. In comparison, they had significantly lower expectations about clinicians' expertise (m diff = 0.75 and 0.58, p less than 0.001 compared to personal contribution and facilitative conditions, respectively) and clinicians' nurturance (warmth and comfort) levels (m diff = 0.73 and 0.57, p less than 0.001 compared to personal contribution and facilitative conditions, respectively). Females had significantly higher TE in relation to personal contribution, F(1,184) = 20.76, p less than 0.001 and facilitative conditions, F(1,184) = 7.76, p less than 0.01 than males. Males, individuals reporting more than one substance of concern, younger clients and individuals reporting no previous substance abuse treatment tend to underestimate level of motivation needed to contribute to counseling outcome. Individuals with extremely severe stress levels had higher clinician related expectations which include clinician expertise, genuineness, and warmth than those without such stress levels. These findings identify groups of clients that may need to be educated about specific aspects of the process of counseling early in the therapy process.

Currently, studies exploring the relationship between treatment expectations (TE) and outcome among individuals with substance use problems are significantly lacking. This is important as relapse and attrition rates among this group are greater than those with other psychological problems. Understanding how TE impact treatment outcomes among this group would provide information to clinicians about which TE to intervene in order to positively influence treatment outcomes. Thus, this eight-month follow-up study investigated TE that could predict treatment outcomes (i.e., clients' substance use, mood states, number of treatment sessions received and clients' satisfaction with the service they received) among 130 outpatients with substance use problems. Using binary logistic regression, age, gender and TE were entered as predictors of treatment outcomes. Results showed that those that had higher expectations about taking responsibility and being open in counseling were more likely to report improvements in their main substance of concern. Furthermore, those that had higher expectations for a positive outcome from counseling were more likely to improve their mood especially depression levels. Although TE could not predict attrition, younger clients were more likely to leave treatment without notice or against advice, receive less treatment sessions and be less satisfied with the treatment they received. Individuals that had higher expectations of being open in counseling and for clinicians' to self-disclosure were more likely to be satisfied with the treatment they received. The findings not only have clinical implications but also implications in relation to developing policies for clinicians working with clients with substance use problems as well as conducting further research in this area.

High rates of gambling and problem gambling among the Chinese have been well documented in anecdotal and empirical reports. However, there is a lack of research on the relationship between important gambling correlates (e.g., gambling cognitions and psychological states) and gambling. This study investigated the role of gambling cognitions and psychological states on problem gambling behavior among 501 participants (306 Caucasians and 195 Chinese living in Australia). Participants completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), and the Gambling Related Cognitions Scale (GRCS). A significant positive relationship between GRCS and DASS on problem gambling behavior was found for both groups. Further gender disparities in anxiety, stress, and illusion of control were revealed for both ethnicities. Implications of these findings and possible future research are discussed. Keywords: gambling; culture; cognition; depression; anxiety; Chinese

Background: Research on gambling behaviours among the Chinese, especially compared to Caucasians, is lacking. Aims and Methods: Gambling behaviours and motivations between community-based Chinese (n = 199) and Caucasians (n = 306) living in Australia were compared. Results: There were significant differences between Caucasians and Australian Chinese in relation to gambling behaviours and types of motivations that could predict problem gambling between the two groups. Conclusions: The findings provide relevant information in understanding gambling behaviours and motivations among the Chinese, as well as a step towards the development of tailored preventive and treatment interventions for problem gambling in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]