Randomized controlled trial of an internet intervention for problem gambling provided with or without access to an internet intervention for co-occurring mental health distress
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The current randomized controlled trial tested whether there was benefit to providing an online gambling intervention and a separate self-help mental health intervention for anxiety and depression (i.e. MoodGYM) (G + MH), compared to only a gambling intervention (G only) among people with co-occurring gambling problems and mental health distress. The primary outcome of interest was improvement in gambling outcomes. Secondary analyses also tested for the impact of the combined intervention on depression and anxiety outcomes. METHODS: Participants who were concerned about their gambling were recruited to help evaluate an online intervention for gamblers. Those who met criteria for problem gambling were randomized to receive either the G only or the G + MH intervention. Participants were also assessed for current mental health distress at baseline, with three quarters (n = 214) reporting significant current distress and form the sample for this study. Participants were followed-up at 3- and 6-months to assess changes in gambling status, and improvements in depression and anxiety. RESULTS: Follow-up rates were poor (47% completed at least one follow-up). While there were significant reductions in gambling outcomes, as well as on measures of current depression and anxiety, there was no significant difference in outcomes between participants receiving the G only versus the G + MH intervention. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: There does not appear to be a benefit to providing access to an additional online mental health intervention to our online gambling intervention, at least among participants who are concerned about their gambling.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.govNCT02800096; Registration date: June 14, 2016.
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A Canadian two-arm RCT supported the efficacy of CBT for the treatment of GD.
“In Canada, Cunningham et al. (2019) conducted a two-arm RCT (online CBT gambling intervention; online CBT gambling intervention and online mental health distress program) that also supported the efficacy of CBT for the treatment of GD.”
From Efficacy of an internet-based psychological intervention for problem gambling and gambling disorder: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as Cunningham et al. (2019)
The Methods describe a Canadian two-arm trial in which both groups received an online gambling intervention drawing heavily on CBT tools; one group also received MoodGYM. The Results report reduced gambling severity and frequency in both groups, but the Discussion cautions that the online gambling intervention had not demonstrated efficacy, and the trial did not compare it with a no-treatment group. Thus the trial does not establish CBT’s efficacy for gambling disorder. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCunningham et al. (2019) report similar reductions in gambling and depressive and anxiety symptomatology in the group with gambling treatment alone and the group that receives an additional distress mental health treatment.
“Cunningham et al. (2019) report similar reductions in gambling and depressive and anxiety symptomatology in the group with gambling treatment alone and the group that receives an additional distress mental health treatment.”
From Efficacy of an internet-based psychological intervention for problem gambling and gambling disorder: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as Cunningham et al. (2019)
There is no significant benefit of adding an additional distress mental health treatment to gambling treatment.
“However, there is no significant benefit of this additional intervention.”
From Efficacy of an internet-based psychological intervention for problem gambling and gambling disorder: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as Cunningham et al. (2019)
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References 41 · Cited by 23
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Toce-Gerstein, M., & Volberg, R. A. (2004). The NODS-CLiP: A new brief screen for pathological gambling. Paper presented at the International Symposium on Problem Gambling and Co-Occurring Disorders, Mystic, CT. mhtml: http://www.gamblingproblem.org/presentations/Volberg.mht!Volberg_files/frame.htm.
- Authors
- Cunningham, J. A., Hodgins, D. C., Mackenzie, C. S., Godinho, A., Schell, C., Kushnir, V., & Hendershot, C. S.
- Affiliations
- Australian National University (AU)
- University of Calgary (CA)
- University of Manitoba (CA)
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Cunningham, John A.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Internet Interventions
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-09
- Volume
- 17
- Pages
- 100239
- ISSN
- 2214-7829 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6411631
- OpenAlex
- W2920982614
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3
- FWCI
- 3.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Internet Interventions (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Keywords
- problem gambling, online intervention, anxiety, depression, MoodGYM, combined intervention, gambling outcomes
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