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Emotion Regulation Group Treatment for Gambling Disorder - a Pilot Trial

Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Problem Gambling with a Focus on Emotion Regulation - a Pilot Study

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03725735
Enrollment
27
Registered
2018-10-31
Start date
2018-10-30
Completion date
2019-12-31
Last updated
2025-03-18

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

Conditions

Gambling Disorder

Keywords

Gambling disorder, psychiatric comorbidities, emotion regulation

Brief summary

Group cognitive behavioral therapy for Gambling Disorder (GD) with a focus on emotion regulation - A pilot study This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility and possible effectiveness of a novel treatment protocol developed within the research group including emotion regulation techniques for the treatment of GD.

Detailed description

The manual is based on principles from so called third wave cognitive behavioral therapy, which differs from current treatment within standard care in that focus is more on emotion regulation techniques. The treatment consists of an 8- session program delivered by weekly sessions. The study is an open trial in order to evaluate the possible benefit of components of emotion regulation in treating gambling disorder (GD). Participants with psychiatric comorbidities will be included and symptoms of comorbidities will be measured as secondary outcomes. Once included in the study the participant will be measured weekly on symptoms of gambling disorder. By increasing competencies in emotion regulation (such as active problem solving, acceptance and reappraisal of events in order to change their emotional impact) the hypothesis is that the participants will improve on measures of symptoms of GD as well as gambling expenditure in terms of time and money.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALCBT for problem gambling with emotion regulation

CBT group treatment for problem gambling with emotion regulation focus, with 8 sessions.

Sponsors

Karolinska Institutet
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Open label pilot study

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 100 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Gambling Disorder according to DSM 5

Exclusion criteria

* Unable to speak and read Swedish * Symptoms of manic episode * Severe psychiatric condition in need of urgent care

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in gambling symptomsPre-treatment up to 12-month followup.Change in gambling symptoms will be measured by Gambling symptoms assessment scale (G-SAS) - a 12-item scale measuring symtoms of gambling disorder within the last week. Maximum score 48. Higher scores indicating more severe problems.
Change in gambling expenditurePre-treatment up to 12-month followup.Change in time and money spent on gambling, per week

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Symptoms of depressionPHQ-9 will be administered: assessment prior to treatment, weekly measures during the 8 weeks of treatment, at treatment termination and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment termination.Patient health questionnaire, PHQ-9 - measuring symtoms of depression with the last 2 weeks. Maximum score: 27. Higher scores indicating more severe problems.
Symptoms of anxietyGAD- 7 will be administered: assessment prior to treatment, weekly measures during the 8 weeks of treatment, at treatment termination and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment termination.Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 item, GAD-7.Maximum score: 21. Higher scores indicating more severe problems
WHOQOL-BrefWHOQOL-Bref will be administered: assessment prior to treatment, at treatment termination and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment termination.Measures quality of life in four domains (psychological, social, environmental and physical)

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Gambling Urgeswill be administered: assessment prior to treatment, at treatment termination and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment termination.Gambling Urge Scale, 6 item - measuring gambling urges. Maximun score of 18. Higher score = stronger urges.
Increased psychological flexibilityAAQ-II will be administered: assessment prior to treatment, weekly measures during the 8 weeks of treatment, at treatment termination and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment termination.Acceptance and Action Questionnaire - AAQ - II - a measure of psychological flexibility and acceptance which will be analysed as mediator in treatment. 6 items, maximum score of 42. Higher scores indicating more inflexibility and experiential avoidance.
Craving experiencesCEQ-G will be administered: assessment prior to treatment, at treatment termination and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment termination.Craving experiences questionnaire for gambling (CEQ-G)- measuring gambling cravings in terms of frequency and intensity within the last week. 16 item scores from 0-10. Maximum score of 160. Higher scores = more strong and/or intense cravings.
Alcohol consumptionAUDIT will be administered: assessment prior to treatment, at treatment termination and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment termination.Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, AUDIT
Drug consumptionDUDIT will be administered: assessment prior to treatment, at treatment termination and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment termination.Drug Use Disorder Identification Test, DUDIT
Increased competencies in Emotion RegulationDERS - 16 will be administered: assessment prior to treatment, at treatment termination and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment termination.Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, DERS- 16

Countries

Sweden

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 19, 2026