Problem Gambling
Conditions
Keywords
Problem gambling, mobile app
Brief summary
The purpose of this research study is to determine the effectiveness of the Change4Better (C4B) mobile app at reducing the severity of problem gambling as compared to standard treatment as usual (TAU).
Detailed description
This study is a 6-month randomized clinical trial for individuals with a gambling disorder enrolled in or seeking treatment for problem gambling at an outpatient treatment facilities affiliated with the Bettor Choice Gambling Treatment Programs in Connecticut or Kindbridge Behavioral Health with locations across the US. The purpose is to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a cognitive behavioral therapy-based mobile app (Change4Better; C4B), as an adjunct to treatment as usual (TAU) in community-based outpatient treatment programs. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive either: (1) standard treatment as usual (TAU) or (2) TAU plus access to the Change4Better (C4B) mobile app. TAU will consist of standard services provided at outpatient clinics within the Bettor Choice Programs or Kindbridge Behavioral Health. Clinicians providing TAU within the Bettor Choice Programs or Kindbridge Behavioral Health will not be participants in the research trial, and they will not be asked to perform any additional duties outside of their typical services. Participants assigned to C4B will receive TAU plus access to the C4B mobile app, which they can access as often as desired using their own device. The C4B mobile app will be managed by the Yale research team.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALChange4Better (C4B) mobile app
The content of the C4B app is designed to teach key CBT strategies to address gambling behaviors. The content targets concerns that people with gambling problems often experience (gambling debts, cognitive distortions related to gambling - for example, how unrelated events might be related to gambling outcomes). We have designed the content such that people using the app can see the pattern of progress, identify mistakes and setbacks, and learn from common experiences of people with gambling disorder
Sponsors
Yale University
Mohegan Sun Problem Gambling Treatment Fund
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. 18 years of age or older; 2. able to speak, read and write in English; 3. report gambling in the past 2 months (60 days); 4. meet DSM-5 criteria for gambling disorder within past 12 months as determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for Pathological Gambling - DSM-5 version (SCI-PG-DSM); 5. at least mild gambling severity as measured by GSAS (Total \>8) 6. seeking or currently enrolled in treatment for gambling; if seeking treatment, must be deemed appropriate for outpatient level of care by treatment facility clinical team 7. own a smartphone with internet access.
Exclusion criteria
1. unwilling or unable to provide informed consent due to severe cognitive impairment or inability to read; 2. deemed to have current untreated psychosis or mania; 3. active suicidal ideation; 4. physical dependence on opioids and/or alcohol requiring medical detoxification.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in gambling symptom severity | Baseline to 6 months | Change in gambling symptom severity as measured monthly by the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS) from baseline to 6 months. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale from 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (extreme symptoms). The total score ranges from 0 to 48. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| App engagement-Days Used | Randomization through week 12 | Measured by number of days participants used the app |
| App engagement- Topics completed | Randomization through week 12 | Measured by number of topics completed by participants |
| App engagement- Practice exercises | Randomization through week 12 | Measured by number of practice exercises completed |
| App engagement- Weekly usage | Randomization through week 12 | Measured by average number of minutes per week participants used the app |
| App engagement- Total time | Randomization through week 12 | Measured by total time participants spent in the app |
Countries
United States
Contacts
CONTACTElizabeth Doohan
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORBrian Kiluk, PhD
Yale Universaity
Outcome results
None listed