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

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

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

Brief Summary: 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.

Detailed Summary:

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

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

Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Current Primary Outcome:

  • Gambling urges [ Time Frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup ]
  • Gambling-related expenditures [ Time Frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup ]


Original Primary Outcome:

  • Gambling urges [ Time Frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup ]
  • Gambling-related expenditures [ Time Frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup ]
  • Gambling cognitions [ Time Frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup ]
  • Treatment adherence [ Time Frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup ]


Current Secondary Outcome:

  • treatment adherence [ Time Frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup ]
  • gambling cognitions [ Time Frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup ]


Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Dates:
Date Received: June 29, 2007
Date Started: February 2007
Date Completion:
Last Updated: January 14, 2008
Last Verified: January 2008