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

NCT03460288 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Retraining
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 141
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Gambling, Pathological

Keywords

Gambling, Problematic Gambling, Pathological Gambling

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pathological Gambling Adaptation of Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (PG-YBOCS)

  The total score consists of ten items that measure the severity of gambling symptoms within the past week. The first five questions assess urges and thoughts associated with gambling, whereas the last five questions assess the behavioral component of the disorder. The sum score of each subscale ranges from 0-20. Each subscale can be analyzed separately as well as together as a total score (primary outcome). The total score can be interpreted as follows: 0-7: sub-clinical, 8-15: mild, 16-23: moderate, 24-31: severe and 32-40: extreme gambling symptoms.

  Change in PG-YBOCS from pre- to post-intervention (i.e. 8 week interval)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS)

  Change in SOGS from pre- to post-intervention (i.e. 8 week interval)

• Eysenck Impulsiveness Questionnaire - Subscale Impulsivity (I-7)

  Change in I-7 from pre- to post-intervention (i.e. 8 week interval)

• Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 items depression module (PHQ-9)

  Change in PHQ-9 from pre- to post-intervention (i.e. 8 week interval)

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Behavioral: Retraining (AAT)

Wait-list control group

NO INTERVENTION

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.

Interventions

Retraining (AAT) BEHAVIORAL

The training program is based upon the approach-avoidance task (AAT) and can be easily performed on a computer, laptop or tablet. There is a total of 20 pictures, 10 slot-machine gambling related pictures and 10 neutral pictures that were already used in a prior study (Wittekind et al., submitted). The pictures appear on the computer screen and have to be either pushed or pulled. Pushing and pulling depends on a masked instruction (not related to the content of the pictures, but to the color of the frame). All gambling-related pictures are framed with the color that is instructed to be pushed, all neutral pictures are framed with the color that is instructed to be pulled.

Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf: lead

Study Sites (1)

University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Hamburg, 20246, Germany

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Gambling

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Steffen Moritz, Prof. Dr.

  Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: The study is a randomly controlled study with 2 conditions: Condition 1: Computer-based training program (retraining), condition 2: Wait-list control group (access to the training after the post-assessment). Two assessments-points, the intervention period (pre-post) is eight weeks. Sociodemographic and pathological data are obtained with an internet survey on Unipark®.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 5, 2018
• First Posted: March 9, 2018
• Study Start: January 18, 2018
• Primary Completion: December 11, 2018
• Study Completion: December 11, 2018
• Last Updated: April 30, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-04

Locations

DE (1)