Clinical Trial: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treatment of Pathological Gambling

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

Official Title: Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Pathological Gambling

Brief Summary: This study will determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of three different treatment strategies in reducing gambling behaviors.

Detailed Summary:

The number of pathological gamblers in the United States is steadily growing, leading to significant financial, psychological, and public health consequences. However, studies examining the effectiveness of treatment interventions for pathological gamblers are limited. This study will compare the effectiveness of three different treatment strategies, including referral to Gambler's Anonymous (GA), a self-help manual, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in reducing gambling behaviors and other problems related to pathological gambling.

This study will last 8 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three interventions. Group 1 participants will be referred to GA and 8 weeks of CBT, which focuses on teaching skills to help reduce gambling urges and develop alternative behaviors to gambling. Group 2 participants will be referred to GA and given an 8-week self-help manual. Group 3 participants will be referred to GA alone. Questionnaires will be used to assess participants' gambling behavior and any personal, legal, or health problems they may be experiencing. The questionnaires will be completed at study entry, study completion, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up visits.

Participants will be asked to identify at least one person who knows about their gambling problem and will have regular contact with them during the study and for at least 1 year This person will be interviewed at the beginning of the study, and at Months 2, 6 and 12. Researchers will ask contact persons about participants' gambling behaviors, personal relationships, legal problems, use of health care and mental health services, and how the participant can be contacted if he or she moves.

For information on related studies, please follow these links:

  • Addiction Severity Index (ASI) gambling severity scores
  • time spent gambling
  • days of non-gambling


    • Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

    Current Secondary Outcome:

    • Psychiatric symptoms
    • psychosocial functioning


    Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

    Information By: UConn Health

    Dates:
    Date Received: September 7, 2005
    Date Started: March 1998
    Date Completion:
    Last Updated: June 28, 2013
    Last Verified: June 2013