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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT00495261

Development and Validation of a Mindfulness Intervention for Problem Gambling: An Exploratory Study

In recent years, mindfulness meditation has been shown to be a promising approach for alleviating emotional distress associated with chronic medical and psychiatric conditions and in reducing relapse following treatment for depression. The applicability of mindfulness meditation to problem gambling has not yet been explored. Mindfulness meditation may be particularly suitable for this clinical disorder as it stresses a process-oriented, metacognitive, approach to cognitive pathology in contrast to a content-focused approach, characteristic of traditional approaches to treating cognitive psychopathology. Gambling-related cognitive psychopathology is a well-known characteristic of problem gambling and frequently the target of therapy. Although there is growing evidence that cognitive-behavioral treatments are effective for gambling, outcomes may be improved by teaching gamblers additional ways to cope with cognitive distortions that emphasize metacognitive processes.

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Key information

Conditions

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

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2S1, Canada

About this study

Hypothesis The mindfulness-enhanced CBT (MCBT) will report significant reductions in the frequency of gambling, gambling urges, gambling cognitions and gambling-related expenditures compared to the relaxation-enhanced CBT (RCBT) at end-of-treatment and at the 3-month follow-up.

Significance

  • feasibility of mindfulness interventions for problem gamblers
  • tentative data for the effectiveness of the intervention
  • an additional clinical tool to treat problem gamblers
  • basis of a larger, grant-funded study obtain more definitive data

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • current diagnosis of pathological gambling
  • willingness to practice mindfulness or relaxation

Exclusion criteria

  • substance abuse/dependence (except nicotine)
  • concurrent attendance at any treatment in which their gambling is addressed (including Gamblers Anonymous)

Treatment and study plan

Mindfulness-enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (MCBT)

Behavioral

a variation of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

relaxation-enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (RCBT)

Behavioral

a variation of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Primary outcomes

  1. Gambling urges

    Time frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup

  2. Gambling-related expenditures

    Time frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup

Secondary outcomes

  1. treatment adherence

    Time frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup

  2. gambling cognitions

    Time frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2007
Primary completion
2007
Study completion
2007
First posted
Jul 3, 2007
Registry last updated
Jan 16, 2008

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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