Testing Interference-based Methods to Mitigate Gambling Craving - A Multiple Single Case Design
NCT ID: NCT03493399
Last Updated: 2019-06-28
Study Results
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Basic Information
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UNKNOWN
NA
7 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2019-07-01
2019-10-30
Brief Summary
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Preliminary data have been obtained prior to this application. In order to investigate the relevance of interference-based techniques, an experimental study was conducted in community gamblers. In two conditions (19 gamblers per condition), gambling craving was first induced via a short mental imagery session and a computer-generated gambling simulation task. Then, the experimental group was asked to perform an interference task consisting of creating a vivid mental image of a bunch of keys. The control group completed a task in which they had to pop and count bubble wrap. The analyses revealed that induced craving decreases significantly in both groups. However, participants that are considered problem gamblers showed a greater decrease of their craving in the experimental condition. This previous "proof of principle" study supports that interference-based techniques are potentially promising interventions to reduce craving in problem gambling. It also warrants further research as no data is available in clinical population.
The current project consists in a pilot study aiming to test the efficacy of interference-based techniques in a sample of gambling disorder patients. The investigators decided to adopt a multiple single case design, as this methodology is ideal in the sense that it helps to understand the whole process of an interference-based intervention among a small number (10) of outpatients with a gambling disorder, without control group. Ecological Momentary Assessment will be used to allow intervention no naturally occuring craving. In addition to be easily implementable in a clinical design, this design will provide sufficient evidences before possibly, in a second time, further validation of these techniques using a randomized-control trial.
Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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SEQUENTIAL
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
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Problem Gamblers
Interference
Interference
The principle of interference-based techniques is to move the resources allocated to the elaboration of intrusive desire thoughts to a competing task (e.g., clay modelling, competitive mental imagery, Tetris) in order to monopolize the resources underlying craving, thus preventing its elaboration and reducing its vividness and overwhelming nature. Several studies (Andrade, Pears, May, \& Kavanagh, 2012; May, Andrade, Panabokke, \& Kavanagh, 2010; Skorka-Brown, Andrade, Whalley, \& May, 2015) have shown the efficacy of such techniques to reduce substance-related craving. Yet, data obtained on clinical samples remain scarce.
Due to the flexibility of the single case design towards each participant, the list of interference-based techniques that will be used in this study cannot be exhaustive. However, the following will be proposed to participants: Tetris (smartphone version), manipulation of a bunch of keys, manipulation of a fidget, mental imagery, reading and memorizing a text.
Interventions
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Interference
The principle of interference-based techniques is to move the resources allocated to the elaboration of intrusive desire thoughts to a competing task (e.g., clay modelling, competitive mental imagery, Tetris) in order to monopolize the resources underlying craving, thus preventing its elaboration and reducing its vividness and overwhelming nature. Several studies (Andrade, Pears, May, \& Kavanagh, 2012; May, Andrade, Panabokke, \& Kavanagh, 2010; Skorka-Brown, Andrade, Whalley, \& May, 2015) have shown the efficacy of such techniques to reduce substance-related craving. Yet, data obtained on clinical samples remain scarce.
Due to the flexibility of the single case design towards each participant, the list of interference-based techniques that will be used in this study cannot be exhaustive. However, the following will be proposed to participants: Tetris (smartphone version), manipulation of a bunch of keys, manipulation of a fidget, mental imagery, reading and memorizing a text.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* In therapy for a Gambling Disorder
* French speaking
* Signifiant gambling cravings (clinically assessed)
* Sign an inform consent
Exclusion Criteria
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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University of Luxembourg
OTHER
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois
OTHER
University of Geneva, Switzerland
OTHER
Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain
OTHER
Université Catholique de Louvain
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Aurelien Cornil
Main Collaborator
Locations
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Centre du Jeu Excessif
Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Olivier Simon
Role: primary
References
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Young MM, Wohl MJ. The Gambling Craving Scale: Psychometric validation and behavioral outcomes. Psychol Addict Behav. 2009 Sep;23(3):512-22. doi: 10.1037/a0015043.
Kavanagh DJ, Andrade J, May J. Imaginary relish and exquisite torture: the elaborated intrusion theory of desire. Psychol Rev. 2005 Apr;112(2):446-67. doi: 10.1037/0033-295X.112.2.446.
Cornil, A., Lopez-Fernandez, O., Devos, G., de Timary, P., Goudriaan, A. E., & Billieux, J. (2018). Exploring gambling craving through the elaborated intrusion theory of desire: a mixed methods approach. International Gambling Studies, 18(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2017.1368686
May J, Andrade J, Panabokke N, Kavanagh D. Visuospatial tasks suppress craving for cigarettes. Behav Res Ther. 2010 Jun;48(6):476-85. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2010.02.001. Epub 2010 Feb 7.
Andrade J, Pears S, May J, Kavanagh DJ. Use of a clay modeling task to reduce chocolate craving. Appetite. 2012 Jun;58(3):955-63. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2012.02.044. Epub 2012 Feb 24.
Skorka-Brown J, Andrade J, Whalley B, May J. Playing Tetris decreases drug and other cravings in real world settings. Addict Behav. 2015 Dec;51:165-70. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.07.020. Epub 2015 Jul 26.
Cornil, A., & Billieux, J. (2017). OP-15. Using interference-based intervention to block gambling craving: A proof of principle study. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6 (Suppl.1), 9.
Other Identifiers
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UCLouvain - CJE-CHUV
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id