Computer-based Training (Retraining) for People With Gambling Problems

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

Status: Completed

Conditions: Gambling, Pathological

Treatments: Behavioral: Retraining (AAT)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03460288

Retraining

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study examines the efficacy and acceptance of a computer-based training program for individuals with problematic or pathological gambling behavior. The study intends to investigate the extent to which the computer-based training program leads to a significant reduction in pathological gambling (primary outcome) when compared to a control group. The study design is a randomized-controlled trial with one intervention group and one wait-list control group.

Full description

The study examines the efficacy of a computer-based training 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 Pathological Gambling Adaptation of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsory Scale (PG-YBOCS total score) as a measure of the severity of pathological gambling symptoms. Secondary outcomes are further measures of gambling-related symptoms, such as the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), as well as rates of depression, measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 items depression module (PHQ-9), and rates of impulsivity, measured with the impulsivity subscale of the Eysenck's Impulsivity Inventory (I-7). The training is expected to lead to a significant reduction in problematic/pathological gambling behavior (PG-YBOCS) and all secondary outcomes when compared to a control group. The study design is a randomized-controlled trial with one intervention group and one wait-list control group and two assessment times (pre and post). The intervention group receives the download link for the training program directly following the baseline survey and can use the training over a period of 8 weeks, whereas the wait-list control group receives access to the training after completion of the post-survey.

Enrollment: 141 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• informed consent
• access to internet
• sufficient command of the 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 who do not use the program are also included in the analysis)
• willingness to leave an (anonymous) email-address
• subjective need for treatment

Exclusion criteria

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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141 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

The training-program includes ten pictures related to slot-machine gambling and 10 neutral pictures that need to be either pushed (i.e., avoidance) or pulled (i.e., approach) with the computer mouse or finger (when a tablet is used) according to a non-affective dimension (color of the frame). Pictures are presented in random order.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Retraining (AAT)

Wait-list control group

No Intervention group

Description:

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