Integrative Couple Treatment for Pathological Gambling

NCT02240485 | Completed Results DMC

• 1 other identifier: CER-10-156-06.13
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of the study is to compare marital treatment to individual treatment for pathological gambling.

Conditions

Pathological Gambling

Keywords

Pathological gambling; Treatment; Marital relationship

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (10)

• Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS)

  Outcome measure for Gamblers The G-SAS is a 12-item self-rated scale designed to assess gambling symptom severity and change during treatment. Each 12-item scale has a score ranging from 0 - 4 (adjective anchors for 0 and 4 vary for each item but "0 means no symptoms" and "4 means extreme symptoms"). All items ask for an average symptom based on the past 7 days (average urge, frequency, duration and control,thoughts associated with gambling,time spent on gambling,anticipatory tension and/or excitement, emotional distress). The total score ranges from 0 to 48. A score between 8 and 20 is an indicator of low urges to gamble, between 21 and 30, moderate urges, between 31 and 40 severe urges and a score of over 40 reveals the presence of extreme urges in the player.

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Frequency of the Most Problematic Game

  Outcome Measure for Gamblers Among 12 types of gambling activities, the highest frequency of gambling behaviors for the past 6 months (never = 0; every or almost every day=5). Maximum score is 5. The higher is the score, the higher is the frequency.

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Detection of Gambling Problems and Services Need ("Détection et Besoin d'Aide en Regard du Jeu Excessif- DÉBA-Jeu")

  Outcome Measure for Gamblers The DEBA-Jeu is a very brief screening grid comprising eight Likert-type items in five points (never = 0, always = 4). The eight items form a scale where the total score varies between 0 and 32. The suggested breaking points are as follows: 0 to 1 = No problem gambling; 2 to 5 =Problem gambling ; 6 to 24 = High probability of problem gambling.

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI)

  Outcome measure for Gamblers The Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) is a 9-item measure with a 4-point Likert-type scale (0 = Never, 3 = Almost always).It asks questions about an individual's gambling habits in the last three months from four categories: Gambling involvement; Problem gambling behaviour; Adverse Consequences; Correlates of problem gambling. Scores for the nine items are summed, and the results are interpreted as follows: 0 = non-problem ; 1-4 = low risk; 5-7 = moderate risk; 8 and + (maximum 27) = probable pathological player.

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Canadian Dollars Spent on Gambling

  Outcome measure for Gamblers Total Money spent in canadian dollars for all gambling activities during the last 3 months previous each research interview.

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Impaired Control Over Gambling Scale (ICOG)

  Outcome Measure for Gamblers The ICOG is used to measure two aspects of control related to the JHA processes, namely the level of control over the desire to start playing (e.g., when I decide not to play, I watch stick to that decision) as well as the level of control once the game has started (e.g., when I knew I had little time to play, I would limit myself to the scheduled time). This questionnaire has a total of 10 items and uses a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from "Never = 1" to "Always = 5", with 4 inverted items. The total score varies between 10 and 50. A high control represents a score between 10 and 16, a moderate control between 17 and 23 and a score of 24 and more presents a low control in the player.

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Inventory of Erroneous Beliefs Related to Gambling ("Inventaire Des Croyances liées Aux Jeux" - ICROLJ)-Gambler

  Outcome Measure for Gamblers This questionnaire measures people's beliefs about gambling. The ICROLJ has 29 items and uses a 4-point Likert-type scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" = 0 to "Strongly agree"=4. To compute a total score, all item' score are summed. The total score ranges from 0 to 116.Higher the score is, more it indicates the presence of erroneous beliefs.

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Negative Gambling Consequences-Gambler

  Outcome Measure for Gamblers Short questionnaire of 10 items, assessing to what extent the respondent considers his gambling habits in the last 6 months have harmed various aspects of his life (financial, living conditions, marital, physical health, professional life, social, legal and family). A 5-point Likert-type scale is used "Not at all = 0" to "Extremely = 4". To compute a total score, all item' score are summed. The total score ranges from 0 to 40.Higher the score is, more it's indicate that the respondent is experiencing negative impacts because of his gambling habits.

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Negative Gambling Consequences-Partner

  Outcome Measure for Partners Short questionnaire of 10 items, assessing to what extent the respondent considers that his partner's gambling habits have harmed various aspects of his life in the last 6 months (financial, living conditions, marital, physical health, professional life, social, legal and family). A 5-point Likert-type scale is used "Not at all = 0" to "Extremely = 4". To compute a total score, all item' score are summed. The total score ranges from 0 to 40. Higher the score is, more it's indicate that the respondent is experiencing negative impacts because of his partner's gambling habits.

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Inventory of Erroneous Beliefs Related to Gambling ("Inventaire Des Croyances liées Aux Jeux" - ICROLJ)-Partner

  Outcome Measure for Partners This questionnaire measures people's beliefs about gambling. The ICROLJ has 29 items and uses a 4-point Likert-type scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" = 0 to "Strongly agree"=4. To compute a total score, all item' score are summed. The total score ranges from 0 to 116. Higher the score is, more it indicates the presence of erroneous beliefs.

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

Secondary Outcomes (28)

• Conjugal Support Questionnaire (CSQ)-Partner

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Psychological Distress Index (IDPESQ-14)-Partner

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)-Partner

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Psychological Distress Index (IDPESQ-14)-Gambler

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

• Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)-Gambler

  Admission, 3, 9 and 18 month post-admission (The first admission was March 2011 and the last admission will be June 2016)

Study Arms (2)

Integrative Couple Treatment for Pathological Gambling (ICT-PG)

EXPERIMENTAL

Couple therapy: The experimental couple treatment is offered over 8 to 12 sessions of 90 minutes. The couple treatment called (Integrative Couple Treatment for Pathological Gambling - ICT-PG) is inspired by the "Alcohol Behavior Couple Therapy" from Epstein and McCrady, to which the team added diverse components to adjust to gamblers. During the sessions, the focus is on a) reducing/stopping gambling behaviors, b) helping the partner to stop behaviors facilitating gambling habits and rise the frequency of behaviors incompatible with gambling habits and c) improve marital components (communication, sharing positive moments, negotiation, mutual support).

Behavioral: Integrative Couple Treatment for Pathological Gambling (ICT-PG)

Usual individual/group treatment

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Usual individual/group treatment: The control group receive individual or group treatment as already offered by the specialized centers in addiction.Their partner can receive individual intervention if desired.

Behavioral: Usual individual/group treatment

Interventions

Integrative Couple Treatment for Pathological Gambling (ICT-PG) BEHAVIORAL

The experimental couple treatment is offered over 8 to 12 sessions of 90 minutes. The couple treatment called (Integrative Couple Therapy for Pathological Gambling - ICT-PG) is inspired by the "Alcohol Behavior Couple Therapy" from Epstein and McCrady, to which the team added diverse components to adjust to gamblers. During the sessions, the focus is on a) reducing/stopping gambling behaviors, b) helping the partner to stop behaviors facilitating gambling habits and rise the frequency of behaviors incompatible with gambling habits and c) improve marital components (communication, sharing positive moments, negotiation, mutual support).

Also known as: Couple therapy

Integrative Couple Treatment for Pathological Gambling (ICT-PG)

Usual individual/group treatment BEHAVIORAL

The control group receive individual or group treatment as already offered by the specialized centers in addiction.Their partner can receive individual intervention if desired.

Also known as: treatment as usual

Usual individual/group treatment

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Living together for at least 1 year
• Diagnosis of pathological gambling (WMH-CIDI) during the last 12 months
• The gambler has not received treatment for their gambling for at least 6 months (excluding GA)
• Presence of gambling behavior in the past 3 months
• Degree of commitment to the couple indicating a desire to continue the relationship (score of 7 - MSI)

You may not qualify if:

• Alcohol/Drug Dependence gambler/partner (Severity of Alcohol Dependence Data questionnaire - SADD \>17 included in DEBA-A; Severity of Dependence Scale - SDS \> 5 Included in DEBA-D)
• Gambling problem for the partner (DEBA-Jeu \> 10)
• Presence of serious acts of violence endangering the safety of both spouses (CTS-2)
• Disorder and serious mental health unstabilized one of two members of the couple (ASI: psychological scale)
• Antisocial personality disorder or severe limit ( GAIN: 9 + Scale BCS / CDS)
• Scenario with strong suicidal ideation or attempt in the last 30 days or less in the partner (ASI: psychological scale)
• Low degree of commitment in the relationship of a risk of separation (8 + MSI)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières: lead

Study Sites (1)

Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

Québec, G1S2P1, Canada

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Tremblay J, Dufour M, Bertrand K, Saint-Jacques M, Ferland F, Blanchette-Martin N, Savard AC, Cote M, Berbiche D, Beaulieu M. Efficacy of a randomized controlled trial of integrative couple treatment for pathological gambling (ICT-PG): 10-month follow-up. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2023 Apr;91(4):221-233. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000765. Epub 2022 Dec 15.

  PMID: 36521131 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Gambling

Interventions

Couples Therapy; Therapeutics

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Risk-Taking; Behavior; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Psychotherapy, Group; Socioenvironmental Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Joël Tremblay
• Organization: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

joel.tremblay@uqtr.ca

4186592170

Study Officials

• Joël Tremblay

  Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 4, 2014
• First Posted: September 15, 2014
• Study Start: March 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2017
• Study Completion: July 1, 2018
• Last Updated: April 4, 2022
• Results First Posted: March 18, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)