Brief Therapies for Problem Gambling Substance Abusers

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00685048

Enrollment

220

Registered

2008-05-28

Start date

2007-07-31

Completion date

2014-01-31

Last updated

2019-04-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Gambling

Keywords

Gambling, Brief Therapies, Substance Abuse

Brief summary

This project evaluates the efficacy of brief interventions for individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorders who also have gambling problems. In total, 220 problem gambling substance abusers will be randomized to one of three conditions: (a) a control condition consisting of 10 minutes of psychoeducation about gambling, (b) 10 minutes of brief advice about problem gambling and how to reduce it, or (c) four session of motivational and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Gambling, substance use and psychosocial problems will be assessed using standardized instruments at pre-treatment, month 2, 5, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24-month follow-up evaluations.

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL10 minutes of psycho-education

Patients review with study therapist a brochure about types of gambling people engage in and relationships between gambling, drug use, moods, and legal problems.

BEHAVIORAL10 minutes of brief advice

Patients will review with study therapist a brochure and advice about problem gambling. It will also contain methods for reducing gambling.

BEHAVIORALfour 50-minute individual therapy sessions of MET & CBT

MET & CBT

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

FACTORIAL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* age \> 18 years * current (past-year) DSM-IV criteria for alcohol, cocaine, opioid or marijuana abuse or dependence * score \>3 on the past-two month SOGS * report an average of \>2 gambling days per month for the past 2 months; (e) spent an average of \>$50/month on gambling in the past 2 months * English speaking * sign informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

* have uncontrolled major psychiatric disorders other than substance use that require inpatient hospitalization (e.g., active bipolar disorder, psychosis, suicidality) * desire specific gambling treatment or are currently receiving treatment for gambling * have severe cognitive impairment * read below 5th grade level * plan to relocate \>100 miles or are likely to be incarcerated

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
dollars and days gambled per month	baseline and each follow-up

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026