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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03372226

Computer-based Self-Help Program for People With Gambling Problems

The study examines the effectiveness of a computer-based self-help-program for individuals with problematic or pathological gambling behavior.The main objective of the study is to investigate the extent to which the online program leads to a significant reduction in pathological gambling (primary outcome), depression and gambling-specific dysfunctional thoughts. The program is expected to lead to a significant reduction regarding all measures when compared to a control group. The study is conducted as a randomized-controlled trial with one intervention group and one wait-list control group.

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Key information

Conditions

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

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Hamburg, 20246, Germany

About this study

The study examines the effectiveness of a computer-based self-help-program for individuals with problematic and pathological gambling behavior. The main objective of the study is to investigate the extent to which the online program leads to a significant reduction in pathological gambling. The primary outcome is the PG-Y-BOCS as a measure of the severity of pathological gambling symptoms. Secondary outcomes are rates of depression, measured with the PHQ-9 as well as gambling-specific cognitive biases, measured with the GABS. The program is expected to lead to a significant reduction in problematic/pathological gambling behavior (PG-Y-BOCS) and also to declines in both depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) and gambling-specific cognitive biases (GABS). The study is conducted as a randomized-controlled trial with one intervention group and one wait-list control group. The intervention group receives the login data directly following the baseline survey and can use the program over a period of 8 weeks, whereas the wait-list control group receives access to the program after completion of the post-survey.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • informed consent
  • access to internet
  • adequate usage of 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 that do not use the program are also included in the analysis)
  • willingness to leave an (anonymous) email-address
  • existence of the wish to receive treatment

Exclusion criteria

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

Treatment and study plan

Online self-help program

Behavioral

The program consists of 10 modules with many interactional exercises and homework-sheets. Themes that are addressed in the online-program are for example self-esteem, sleep hygiene, problem solving strategies, mindfulness-based relaxation and attention exercises as well as gambling-specific topics such as money/debt management and impulse control. In addition, the user learns to modify negative and gambling-specific thought distortions, to integrate positive activities into his/her daily routine, strategies to deal with the urge to play as well as ways to regulate debts and to prevent relapse.

Other names: Neustart

Primary outcomes

  1. Pathological Gambling Adaptation of Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (PG-Y-BOCS)

    Time frame: 1 week

    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.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 depression module (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: 1 week

    The Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 depression module is a self-rating measure of depressive symptom severity. The psychometric properties of the PHQ-9 are very good, with high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .86 - .89; Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2001). Its sum score ranges from 0 to 27, with scores from 0-4 indicating minimal depression, 5-9 mild depression, 10-14 moderate depression and 15-27 severe depression.

  2. Gambling Attitudes and Beliefs Survey (GABS)

    Time frame: time of assessment

    The GABS is a self-report questionnaire which explores gambling-related dysfunctional beliefs. In this study, we use a 15-item version of the GABS. Responses can be given on a four-point Likert scale (from 'strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree').

  3. South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS)

    Time frame: 6 months

    20-items self-report measure to screen for engagement in gambling activities and gambling-related problems. A score between 0-2 corresponds to non-problematic gambling, a score of 3-4 to at-risk gambling, and a score of 5-20 to probable pathological gambling.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2018
First posted
Dec 13, 2017
Registry last updated
Apr 30, 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.

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