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

This study has been completed.
Sponsor:
Information provided by:
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT00495261
First received: June 29, 2007
Last updated: January 14, 2008
Last verified: January 2008
History of Changes
  Purpose

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.


Condition Intervention
Gambling
 Behavioral: Mindfulness-enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (MCBT)
Behavioral: relaxation-enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (RCBT)

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Open Label
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: Development and Validation of a Mindfulness Intervention for Problem Gambling: An Exploratory Study

Resource links provided by NLM:

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Gambling urges [ Time Frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Gambling-related expenditures [ Time Frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • treatment adherence [ Time Frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • gambling cognitions [ Time Frame: Baseline, post and 3 month fup ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Estimated Enrollment: 24
Study Start Date: February 2007
Study Completion Date: November 2007
Primary Completion Date: November 2007 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
Experimental: 1 Behavioral: Mindfulness-enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (MCBT)
a variation of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Active Comparator: 2 Behavioral: relaxation-enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (RCBT)
a variation of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Detailed Description:

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
  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

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)
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00495261

Locations
Canada, Ontario
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1
Sponsors and Collaborators
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Tony Toneatto, PhD Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Tony Toneatto, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00495261     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: 311/2006
Study First Received: June 29, 2007
Last Updated: January 14, 2008
Health Authority: Canada: Health Canada

Keywords provided by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health:
Gambling
Mindfulness
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Gambling
Impulse Control Disorders
Mental Disorders

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on June 13, 2013