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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.
The study examines the efficacy of a computer-based training 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 Pathological Gambling Adaptation of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsory Scale (PG-YBOCS total score) as a measure of the severity of pathological gambling symptoms. Secondary outcomes are further measures of gambling-related symptoms, such as the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), as well as rates of depression, measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 items depression module (PHQ-9), and rates of impulsivity, measured with the impulsivity subscale of the Eysenck's Impulsivity Inventory (I-7). The training is expected to lead to a significant reduction in problematic/pathological gambling behavior (PG-YBOCS) and all secondary outcomes when compared to a control group. The study design is a randomized-controlled trial with one intervention group and one wait-list control group and two assessment times (pre and post). The intervention group receives the download link for the training program directly following the baseline survey and can use the training over a period of 8 weeks, whereas the wait-list control group receives access to the training after completion of the post-survey.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
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| 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. |
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) | 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. | Change in SOGS from pre- to post-intervention (i.e. 8 week interval) |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Steffen Moritz, Prof. Dr. | Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf | Hamburg | 20246 | Germany |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D005715 | Gambling |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D012309 | Risk-Taking |
| D001519 | Behavior |
| D007174 | Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
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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®.
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| Eysenck Impulsiveness Questionnaire - Subscale Impulsivity (I-7) | Impulsivity will be assessed with the 17-item impulsivity subscale of the Eysenck Impulsiveness Questionnaire, which consists of the three subscales impulsiveness, venturesomeness, and empathy (Eysenck, Pearson, Easting, & Allsopp, 1985). The reliability of the subscale is good (α = .82 - .85). | Change in I-7 from pre- to post-intervention (i.e. 8 week interval) |
| Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 items depression module (PHQ-9) | The PHQ-9 is used to assess depressive symptoms over the past week. The nine items of the questionnaire are based upon the diagnostic criteria of major depression. Internal consistency of the scale is very good (Cronbach´s α = .86 - .89). | Change in PHQ-9 from pre- to post-intervention (i.e. 8 week interval) |