NCT02953899

Brief Summary

The purpose of this project is to pilot contingency management as an adjunct treatment to counselling as usual using internet delivered video-conferencing applications for remote disordered gamblers. This project further investigates the impact of adding contingency management to counselling to improve counselling attendance and retention and uses internet-delivered approaches to assist rural and remote disordered gamblers gain access to counselling treatments.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
54

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
8mo left

Started Nov 2016

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress94%
Nov 2016Dec 2026

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 1, 2016

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 1, 2016

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 3, 2016

Completed
10.2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2026

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2026

Last Updated

April 11, 2025

Status Verified

April 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

10.2 years

First QC Date

November 1, 2016

Last Update Submit

April 8, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

InternetContingency ManagementGambling DisorderRural

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Gambling Abstinence

    The total number of sessions that a participant provided evidence of gambling abstinence in the study

    12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Session Attendance

    12-weeks

  • Study Retention

    12-weeks

Study Arms (2)

Contingency Management

EXPERIMENTAL

This is a treatment where participants earn points for treatment attendance and for providing evidence of gambling abstinence. These points are added to study accounts that can be redeemed for goods and services available at a variety of on-line businesses (e.g., Amazon, Walmart, etc.). Submission of evidence of gambling behaviour or non-attendance at an on-line counselling session re-sets subsequent points to the starting level. The CM procedure is implemented as part of the CBT counselling session.

Behavioral: Contingency Management

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

CBT is currently considered "best practice" for the treatment of problem gambling, as noted in the National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) endorsed Clinical Guidelines for problem and pathological gambling treatment (Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre, 2011). CBT is typically a semi-structured approach for delivering cognitive behavioural therapy addressing the participant's experiences, thoughts, and emotions relating to their gambling and substance use. Techniques include psychoeducation, behavioural interventions, and cognitive strategies. Participants are expected to attend on-line counselling sessions three times a week for approximately 12 weeks. All participants will receive individual counselling from an experienced counsellor/therapist.

Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Interventions

In addition to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, this intervention uses small incentives to reinforce study attendance and gambling abstinence.

Contingency Management

This intervention uses psychoeducation, behavioural strategies, and cognitive restructuring to assist the participant in their efforts to become abstinent from gambling.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 70 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • capable of providing written consent,
  • received a diagnosis of gambling disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013),
  • gambled within the last month,
  • live in a rural or remote location, and
  • speak English

You may not qualify if:

  • Medically unmanaged psychiatric or neurological disorder(s) except for disordered gambling

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Lethbridge

Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, Canada

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Christensen DR, Witcher CSG, Leighton T, Hudson-Breen R, Ofori-Dei S. Piloting the addition of contingency management to best practice counselling as an adjunct treatment for rural and remote disordered gamblers: study protocol. BMJ Open. 2018 Apr 3;8(4):e018804. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018804.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Gambling

Interventions

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Risk-TakingBehaviorDisruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct DisordersMental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior TherapyPsychotherapyBehavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

  • Darren R Christensen, PhD

    University of Lethbridge

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Darren R Christensen, PhD

CONTACT

Chad Witcher, PhD

CONTACT

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
Chair in Gambling, Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 1, 2016

First Posted

November 3, 2016

Study Start

November 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Last Updated

April 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Only the research team will have access to the individual participant data

Locations