Computer-based Self-Help Program for People With Gambling Problems

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

Status: Completed

Conditions: Gambling, Pathologic

Treatments: Behavioral: Online self-help program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03372226

Neustart

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study examines the effectiveness of a computer-based self-help-program for individuals with problematic or pathological gambling behavior.The main objective of the study is to investigate the extent to which the online program leads to a significant reduction in pathological gambling (primary outcome), depression and gambling-specific dysfunctional thoughts. The program is expected to lead to a significant reduction regarding all measures when compared to a control group. The study is conducted as a randomized-controlled trial with one intervention group and one wait-list control group.

Full description

The study examines the effectiveness of a computer-based self-help-program for individuals with problematic and pathological gambling behavior. The main objective of the study is to investigate the extent to which the online program leads to a significant reduction in pathological gambling. The primary outcome is the PG-Y-BOCS as a measure of the severity of pathological gambling symptoms. Secondary outcomes are rates of depression, measured with the PHQ-9 as well as gambling-specific cognitive biases, measured with the GABS. The program is expected to lead to a significant reduction in problematic/pathological gambling behavior (PG-Y-BOCS) and also to declines in both depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) and gambling-specific cognitive biases (GABS). The study is conducted as a randomized-controlled trial with one intervention group and one wait-list control group. The intervention group receives the login data directly following the baseline survey and can use the program over a period of 8 weeks, whereas the wait-list control group receives access to the program after completion of the post-survey.

Enrollment: 155 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• informed consent
• access to internet
• adequate usage of German language
• willingness to participate in two short (25-30 minutes) online surveys
• willingness to use the online program over a period of 8 weeks (participants that do not use the program are also included in the analysis)
• willingness to leave an (anonymous) email-address
• existence of the wish to receive treatment

Exclusion criteria

• existence of a lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
• existence of an acute suicidal tendency (assessed with item 9 of the PHQ-9, ≥3)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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155 participants in 2 patient groups

Online self-help program

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention group receives the login data for the online program directly following the baseline assessment. The program consists of 10 modules with many interactional exercises and homework-sheets. Themes that are addressed in the online-program are for example self-esteem, sleep hygiene, problem solving strategies, mindfulness-based relaxation and attention exercises as well as gambling-specific topics such as money/debt management and impulse control. In addition, the user learns to modify negative and gambling-specific thought distortions, to integrate positive activities into his/her daily routine, strategies to deal with the urge to play as well as ways to regulate debts and to prevent relapse.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Online self-help program

Wait-list control group

No Intervention group

Description:

The participants of the wait-list control condition do not receive any new intervention during the intervention period of 8 weeks, but may continue any treatment that has already been started before, including medication. Participants in the wait-list control condition receive full access to the program after completion of the post-assessment.