Gambling and Brief Interventions
Study Details
Study Description
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.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
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.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: 1
|
Behavioral: 5 Minutes of Simple Advice
|
| Experimental: 2
|
Behavioral: Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
|
| Experimental: 3
|
Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- 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 Outcome Measures
- Psychosocial functioning [measured at baseline, Week 6, and 9 months]
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
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
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LMG | Bridgeport | Connecticut | United States | 06604 |
| 2 | University of Connecticut Health Center | Farmington | Connecticut | United States | 06030 |
| 3 | CSAC | Hartford | Connecticut | United States | |
| 4 | Southern CT State University | New Haven | Connecticut | United States | 06515 |
| 5 | LMG | Stamford | Connecticut | United States | |
| 6 | University of Connecticut | Storrs | Connecticut | United States | 06269 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- UConn Health
- Donaghue Medical Research Foundation
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Nancy M Petry, PhD, UConn Health
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 99-205
- DF#00-121