Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT00685724

A Pilot SMART Design for Pathological Gamblers

Pathological gambling is serious problem, with significant psychological, financial, and public health consequences. Nevertheless, controlled trials examining the efficacy of therapeutic interventions for pathological gamblers are sparse, and many pathological gamblers recover on their own, or with only minimal interventions. In this initial study of a SMART design for pathological gamblers, we will offer a brief intervention to all (n = 100), and subsequently randomize individuals based upon their initial treatment response to varying intensities of additional care from none to 8 sessions of individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) plus 14 weeks of Aftercare. Gambling outcomes will be assessed pre-treatment and at about weeks 10, 24, 36 and 52.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

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

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Connecticut Health Center

Farmington, Connecticut, 06030, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • age > 18 years old, DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling
  • >2 gambling episodes in past 60 days
  • spent >$100 wagering in the past 60 days
  • willingness to accept random assignment after the brief intervention.

Exclusion criteria

  • Reading level below 5th grade
  • uncontrolled psychiatric conditions (e.g., active suicidal intention, psychosis, bipolar disorder)

Treatment and study plan

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)

Behavioral

MET is a client-centered, directive form of therapy designed to enhance clients' intrinsic motivation to change.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Behavioral

In CBT, clients learn to modify their thoughts as well as their behaviors by increasing awareness of the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Primary outcomes

  1. self and collateral indices of gambling and gambling related problems

    Time frame: baseline and each follow-up

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

UConn Health

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Registry information

Acronym: SMART

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2011
First posted
May 28, 2008
Registry last updated
Apr 9, 2019

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.