Emotion Regulation Group Treatment for Gambling Disorder - a Pilot Trial

Not Applicable

Completed

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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
CBT for PG with emotion regulation	CBT for problem gambling with emotion regulation	A new treatment protocol for problem gamblers, CBT for problem gambling with emotion regulation, has a focus on emotion regulation, a component that has been lacking in current published research.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in gambling symptoms	Pre-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 expenditure	Pre-treatment up to 12-month followup.	Change in time and money spent on gambling, per week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Symptoms of anxiety	GAD- 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
Symptoms of depression	PHQ-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.
WHOQOL-Bref	WHOQOL-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)

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