Gambling
Conditions
Keywords
Brief interventions, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Brief summary
This study will compare four different combinations and durations of motivational enhancement therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and brief advice treatments for gambling versus a non-intervention condition to determine which is most effective in reducing problem gambling.
Detailed description
Gambling, if done compulsively, can cause psychological, physical, social, and vocational problems. Problem gambling, or compulsive gambling, is a progressive addiction characterized by a preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, and gambling more to make up for losses. This study will compare four different combinations and durations of motivational enhancement therapy (MET), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and brief advice treatments for gambling versus a non-intervention condition to determine which is most effective in reducing problem gambling. This open-label study will last a total of 9 months. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups. Group 1 will have no intervention and will be instructed to call if they experience any gambling problems. Group 2 will receive 5 minutes of education on the hazards of heavy gambling. In addition, they will receive a 1-page brochure on problem gambling and its consequences. Group 3 will receive a 1-hour session of MET focused on increasing commitment to change by raising awareness of personal consequences of gambling. Group 4 will receive the same MET session as Group 3, as well as three 1-hour sessions of CBT focused on identifying specific social and mood cues associated with gambling. Treatment will end at Week 4. Participants will have two follow-up sessions held over the phone at Week 6 and again 9 months after enrollment. Gambling behavior, employment status, alcohol and drug use, psychiatric problems, and family problems will be assessed.
Interventions
BEHAVIORAL5 Minutes of Simple Advice
BEHAVIORALMotivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
BEHAVIORALCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Sponsors
Donaghue Medical Research Foundation
UConn Health
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Meets criteria for problem gambling * Two or more gambling episodes per month for 2 months prior to enrollment * Has spent at least $50 per month on gambling for 2 months prior to enrollment
Exclusion criteria
* Any uncontrolled psychiatric conditions * Severe cognitive impairment * Currently receiving treatment for gambling
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Addiction Severity Index (ASI)-gambling severity scores | measured at baseline, Week 6, and 9 months |
| Amount spent gambling | measured at baseline, Week 6, and 9 months |
| Days gambled | measured at baseline, Week 6, and 9 months |
| Proportion meeting problem gambling criteria | measured at baseline, Week 6, and 9 months |
| Proportion abstinent | measured at baseline, Week 6, and 9 months |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Psychosocial functioning | measured at baseline, Week 6, and 9 months |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed