A Psychotherapy Development Study for Internet Gaming

NCT03220581 | Completed Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 17-028-2R21DA042900
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) introduces Internet Gaming disorder (IGD) as a Substance-Related and Addictive Disorder in Section 3, Conditions for Further Study. Although research is in the nascent stages, existing studies demonstrate that IGD is associated with psychosocial distress including suicidality, and adverse vocational and educational outcomes in youth. Internet gaming disorder also shares substantial overlap with substance use, and it primarily affects adolescents, who rarely seek treatment on their own. Parents more often express concerns about their child's game playing behaviors, and data suggest that parents can have strong influences on it. This psychotherapy development study will evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and effect sizes of a behavioral intervention designed to help parents reduce gaming problems in their children. Sixty concerned parents and their children will complete parental and self-report inventories and structured diagnostic interviews regarding the child's gaming behaviors, substance use and psychosocial functioning. Participants will be randomized to either a control condition consisting of referral for mental health issues and family support services or to the same plus a 6-week family-based behavioral intervention designed to assist with better monitoring and regulating the child's game playing behaviors and encouraging and rewarding alternatives to game playing. Gaming and other problems will be assessed pre-treatment, mid-treatment, at the end of treatment, and at a 4-month follow-up. This study is unique in evaluating initial psychometric properties of a parental version of a measure that uses the DSM-5 criteria for IGD in a clinical sample, and it will also assess associations of IGD with substance use, psychological symptoms, and family functioning over time. Most importantly, this study will be the first randomized trial of an intervention designed to reduce gambling problems, and results are likely to guide future research and treatment efforts related to this condition.

Conditions

Internet Gaming Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Percentage of Participants Who Completed All 6 Sessions

  Completion of sessions is an indicator of treatment acceptability and feasibility

  12 weeks

• Number of Days of Gaming in Past Week - Reported by Child

  Number of days of game playing in past week is an indicator of severity of the gaming problem.

  12 weeks

• Number of Days of Gaming in the Past Week - Reported by Parent

  Number of days of gaming is an indicator of the severity of the gaming problem.

  12 weeks

• Number of Symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder - Assessed Through a Clinical Interview With Child

  Examines whether the treatment group showed greater reductions in symptoms of Internet gaming disorder than the control group. Ratings of Internet gaming disorder symptoms were assessed using a clinical interview with the child, conducted by trained assessors blind to treatment condition.

  12 weeks

• Number of Symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder - Assessed Through a Clinical Interview With Parent

  Examines whether the treatment group showed greater reductions in symptoms of Internet gaming disorder than the control group. Ratings of Internet gaming disorder symptoms were assessed using a clinical interview with the parent, conducted by trained assessors blind to treatment condition.

  12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Referral for care

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Referral for mental health issues and family support services

Behavioral: Referral for care

Behavioral therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

8-week behavioral intervention designed to assist with better monitoring and regulating the child's game playing behaviors

Behavioral: Referral for care; Behavioral: Behavioral therapy

Interventions

Referral for care BEHAVIORAL

referral for addictions support

Behavioral therapy; Referral for care

Behavioral therapy BEHAVIORAL

therapy focused on monitoring gaming behavior and replacing it with other activities and communication skills

Behavioral therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 10 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• parent/guardian of a 10-19 year old residing in the same household \>8 months/year
• reports significant problems with game playing

You may not qualify if:

• have a condition that may hinder study participation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• UConn Health: lead
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

UConn Health

Farmington, Connecticut, 06030, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Internet Addiction Disorder

Interventions

Referral and Consultation; Behavior Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Technology Addiction; Behavior, Addictive; Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Professional Practice; Organization and Administration; Health Services Administration; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Limitations and Caveats

There were no major limitations of the trial.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Kristyn Zajac, PhD
• Organization: UConn Health

zajac@uchc.edu

860-679-8572

Study Officials

• Kristyn Zajac, PhD

  UConn Health

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

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

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 14, 2017
• First Posted: July 18, 2017
• Study Start: October 1, 2017
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2020
• Study Completion: July 1, 2020
• Last Updated: February 7, 2022
• Results First Posted: September 9, 2021

Record last verified: 2022-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)