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Online Coping Skills Counseling for Problem Gambling and Trauma

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Trauma, Psychological
Problem Gambling
Gambling Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Interventions
Behavioral: Seeking Safety
Behavioral: CBT for Pathological Gambling
Registration Number
NCT03145792
Lead Sponsor
University of Windsor
Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial examines the efficacy of two behavioral therapies. Seeking Safety, which addresses co-occurring problem gambling (PG) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being compared to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for PG, which addresses only PG. Both models are delivered via telehealth.

Detailed Description

Our key study question is whether an integrated focus on PG and PTSD (Seeking Safety; SS) offers a useful new option for clinical care compared to a purely problem gambling approach (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for PG; CBT-PG). This question-the impact of integrated versus non-integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders-is one of the key issues in the field currently and has never been studied in relation to PG and PTSD.

Our aims are:

1. To conduct an RCT of SS versus CBT-PG in a sample of 84 people with current PG and PTSD (full or subthreshold).

2. To evaluate outcomes from baseline to end of treatment and 12 month followup on two primary variables (money lost gambling and number of gambling sessions) and several secondary variables.

Our hypotheses are: (a) SS will do no worse than CBT-PG on the primary PG outcomes as both treatments are designed to address addiction; i.e., both will show improvement from baseline to end of treatment and maintenance of gains through the followup. (b) SS will show superior results on trauma symptoms as SS is designed to address those, whereas CBT-PG is not.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
65
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 18 and over
  • Recruited from the province of Manitoba, Canada
  • Meets criteria for PTSD (full or subthreshold) on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS)
  • Meets gambling disorder criteria per the DSM-5 Diagnostic Interview of Gambling Severity
Exclusion Criteria
  • Current uncontrolled psychotic or bipolar I disorder
  • Suicidal or homicidal ideation with intent and/or plan
  • Currently engaging in or planning to engage in any manualized, formal, evidence-based PTSD therapy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Seeking SafetySeeking SafetyBehavioral therapy for trauma and addiction.
CBT for Pathological GamblingCBT for Pathological GamblingBehavioral therapy for gambling problems.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Money spent gambling6-weeks (mid-treatment), 12-weeks (end-of-treatment), and 12-months

Change from baseline in amount of money spent gambling in the past month

Number of gambling sessions6-weeks (mid-treatment), 12-weeks (end-of-treatment), and 12-months

Change from baseline in number of days in the past month during which gambling occurred

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
PTSD Checklist (PCL) scores6-weeks (mid-treatment), 12-weeks (end-of-treatment), and 12-months

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms

Trauma Symptom Checklist 406-weeks (mid-treatment), 12-weeks (end-of-treatment), and 12-months

Change in baseline in broad trauma-related symptoms

Brief Symptom Inventory-18 scores6-weeks (mid-treatment), 12-weeks (end-of-treatment), and 12-months

Change from baseline in general psychiatric symptoms

Brief Addiction Monitor scores6-weeks (mid-treatment), 12-weeks (end-of-treatment), and 12-months

Change from baseline in substance use and associated problems

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Treatment Innovations

🇺🇸

Newton Center, Massachusetts, United States

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