A Pilot SMART Design for Pathological Gamblers

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Pathological Gambling
• Interventions: Behavioral: Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET); Behavioral: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Registration Number: NCT00685724
• Lead Sponsor: UConn Health

Brief Summary

Pathological gambling is serious problem, with significant psychological, financial, and public health consequences. Nevertheless, controlled trials examining the efficacy of therapeutic interventions for pathological gamblers are sparse, and many pathological gamblers recover on their own, or with only minimal interventions. In this initial study of a SMART design for pathological gamblers, we will offer a brief intervention to all (n = 100), and subsequently randomize individuals based upon their initial treatment response to varying intensities of additional care from none to 8 sessions of individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) plus 14 weeks of Aftercare. Gambling outcomes will be assessed pre-treatment and at about weeks 10, 24, 36 and 52.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2008-01
• Study First Submitted: 2008-05-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-05-23
• Study First Posted: 2008-05-28
• Primary Completion: 2011-03
• Study Completion: 2011-03
• Status Verified: 2019-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-04-05
• Last Update Posted: 2019-04-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 66

Inclusion Criteria

• age > 18 years old, DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling
• >2 gambling episodes in past 60 days
• spent >$100 wagering in the past 60 days
• willingness to accept random assignment after the brief intervention.

Exclusion Criteria

• Reading level below 5th grade
• uncontrolled psychiatric conditions (e.g., active suicidal intention, psychosis, bipolar disorder)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1	Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)	Following 2 sessions of MET intervention received by all patients, patients in Condition 1 receive no further intervention.
2	Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)	Patients in Condition 2 will receive 8 sessions of the CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) intervention.
3	Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)	Patients in Condition 3 will receive 8 sessions of CBT plus aftercare treatment.
3	Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)	Patients in Condition 3 will receive 8 sessions of CBT plus aftercare treatment.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
self and collateral indices of gambling and gambling related problems	baseline and each follow-up

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Connecticut Health Center; 🇺🇸 Farmington, Connecticut, United States