Gambling DisorderNCT02953899
Contingency Management as an Adjunct Treatment for Rural and Remote Disordered Gamblers
A study testing Contingency Management and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in people with Gambling Disorder, run by University of Lethbridge at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The purpose of this project is to pilot contingency management as an adjunct treatment to counselling as usual using internet delivered video-conferencing applications for remote disordered gamblers. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 70 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Gambling Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Contingency Management and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 54 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- Nov 2016to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- capable of providing written consent,
- received a diagnosis of gambling disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013),
- gambled within the last month,
- live in a rural or remote location, and
- speak English
Who cannot join
- Medically unmanaged psychiatric or neurological disorder(s) except for disordered gambling
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Canada1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Lethbridge
Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4
Darren R Christensen, PhD, 4033295124, darren.christensen@uleth.ca
Chad Witcher, PhD, 403-332-4439, chad.witcher@uleth.ca
About this study
Official title: Piloting the Addition of Contingency Management to Best Practice Counselling as an Adjunct Treatment for Rural and Remote Disordered Gamblers
The purpose of this project is to pilot contingency management as an adjunct treatment to counselling as usual using internet delivered video-conferencing applications for remote disordered gamblers. This project further investigates the impact of adding contingency management to counselling to improve counselling attendance and retention and uses internet-delivered approaches to assist rural and remote disordered gamblers gain access to counselling treatments.
Read the detailed description
The chosen methodology is a randomised clinical trial where participants are allocated into one of two conditions; Contingency Management and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CM+), or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy alone (CBT) for the treatment of disordered gambling. Participants will experience a battery of tests pre- and post-treatment examining clinical, psychological, and behavioural issues, including co-morbid substance use. Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN) affiliates will be provided with information regarding how participants can access the Qualtrics study site (e.g., an on-line survey hosting company) and will be individually directed to the study site by the principal investigator to complete the consent form and the base-line assessments. Counselling will be provided free of charge using Skype or Facetime video-conferencing internet applications. Participation in each condition will last 14 weeks: 12 weeks for treatment, and 2 weeks of assessments (one week prior to treatment and one week post treatment). Pre-treatment assessments (including demographic information) will take approximately 30-45 minutes, as will the post-treatment assessments. The progress check-ups by the Principal Investigator will take 5 to 10 minutes. A subset of treatment seekers, counsellors, and community/project stakeholders (e.g., ARDN affiliates) will also be chosen to participate in qualitative interviews to explore their experiences as well as their perceptions regarding the utility of the program for residents of rural and remote areas. The qualitative interviews will take approximately 30-60 minutes.
- Conditions
- Gambling Disorder
- Being tested
- Contingency Management, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Keywords
- Internet, Contingency Management, Gambling Disorder, Rural
- Medical subject headings
- Gambling
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Contingency ManagementBehavioural
In addition to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, this intervention uses small incentives to reinforce study attendance and gambling abstinence.
Cognitive Behavioural TherapyBehavioural
This intervention uses psychoeducation, behavioural strategies, and cognitive restructuring to assist the participant in their efforts to become abstinent from gambling.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Contingency Management | Experimental | This is a treatment where participants earn points for treatment attendance and for providing evidence of gambling abstinence. These points are added to study accounts that can be redeemed for goods and services available at a variety of on-line businesses (e.g., Amazon, Walmart, etc.). Submission of evidence of gambling behaviour or non-attendance at an on-line counselling session re-sets subsequent points to the starting level. The CM procedure is implemented as part of the CBT counselling session. Receives: Behavioral: Contingency Management |
| Cognitive Behavioural Therapy | Active comparator | CBT is currently considered "best practice" for the treatment of problem gambling, as noted in the National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) endorsed Clinical Guidelines for problem and pathological gambling treatment (Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre, 2011). CBT is typically a semi-structured approach for delivering cognitive behavioural therapy addressing the participant's experiences, thoughts, and emotions relating to their gambling and substance use. Techniques include psychoeducation, behavioural interventions, and cognitive strategies. Participants are expected to attend on-line counselling sessions three times a week for approximately 12 weeks. All participants will receive individual counselling from an experienced counsellor/therapist. Receives: Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Gambling Abstinence
The total number of sessions that a participant provided evidence of gambling abstinence in the study
Measured: 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Session Attendance
The total number of sessions that a participant attended the study
Measured: 12-weeks
Study Retention
The total number of weeks that a participant attended the study
Measured: 12-weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Nov 2016 (estimated)
- Study startNov 2016
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Gambling DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Lethbridge
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Rural Development Network
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Darren R. Christensen, University of Lethbridge
- Investigators
- Darren R Christensen, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Lethbridge
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02953899
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2016-080
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Nov 2016
- Last updated
- 11 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Only the research team will have access to the individual participant data
Publications
Christensen DR, Witcher CSG, Leighton T, Hudson-Breen R, Ofori-Dei S. Piloting the addition of contingency management to best practice counselling as an adjunct treatment for rural and remote disordered gamblers: study protocol. BMJ Open. 2018 Apr 3;8(4):e018804. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018804.
PubMed 29615445
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Piloting the Addition of Contingency Management to Best Practice Counselling as an Adjunct Treatment for Rural and Remote Disordered Gamblers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02953899
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2016-080
- Conditions
- Gambling Disorder
- Keywords
- Internet, Contingency Management, Gambling Disorder, Rural
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LethbridgeUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Rural Development Network
- Study start
- Nov 2016 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 3 Nov 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this project is to pilot contingency management as an adjunct treatment to counselling as usual using internet delivered video-conferencing applications for remote disordered gamblers. This project further investigates the impact of adding contingency management to counselling to improve counselling attendance and retention and uses internet-delivered approaches to assist rural and remote disordered gamblers gain access to counselling treatments.
Detailed description
The chosen methodology is a randomised clinical trial where participants are allocated into one of two conditions; Contingency Management and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CM+), or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy alone (CBT) for the treatment of disordered gambling. Participants will experience a battery of tests pre- and post-treatment examining clinical, psychological, and behavioural issues, including co-morbid substance use. Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN) affiliates will be provided with information regarding how participants can access the Qualtrics study site (e.g., an on-line survey hosting company) and will be individually directed to the study site by the principal investigator to complete the consent form and the base-line assessments. Counselling will be provided free of charge using Skype or Facetime video-conferencing internet applications. Participation in each condition will last 14 weeks: 12 weeks for treatment, and 2 weeks of assessments (one week prior to treatment and one week post treatment). Pre-treatment assessments (including demographic information) will take approximately 30-45 minutes, as will the post-treatment assessments. The progress check-ups by the Principal Investigator will take 5 to 10 minutes. A subset of treatment seekers, counsellors, and community/project stakeholders (e.g., ARDN affiliates) will also be chosen to participate in qualitative interviews to explore their experiences as well as their perceptions regarding the utility of the program for residents of rural and remote areas. The qualitative interviews will take approximately 30-60 minutes.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Contingency Management | Experimental | Behavioral: Contingency ManagementThis is a treatment where participants earn points for treatment attendance and for providing evidence of gambling abstinence. These points are added to study accounts that can be redeemed for goods and services available at a variety of on-line businesses (e.g., Amazon, Walmart, etc.). Submission of evidence of gambling behaviour or non-attendance at an on-line counselling session re-sets subsequent points to the starting level. The CM procedure is implemented as part of the CBT counselling session. |
| Cognitive Behavioural Therapy | Active comparator | Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioural TherapyCBT is currently considered "best practice" for the treatment of problem gambling, as noted in the National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) endorsed Clinical Guidelines for problem and pathological gambling treatment (Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre, 2011). CBT is typically a semi-structured approach for delivering cognitive behavioural therapy addressing the participant's experiences, thoughts, and emotions relating to their gambling and substance use. Techniques include psychoeducation, behavioural interventions, and cognitive strategies. Participants are expected to attend on-line counselling sessions three times a week for approximately 12 weeks. All participants will receive individual counselling from an experienced counsellor/therapist. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- capable of providing written consent,
- received a diagnosis of gambling disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013),
- gambled within the last month,
- live in a rural or remote location, and
- speak English
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Medically unmanaged psychiatric or neurological disorder(s) except for disordered gambling
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Contingency ManagementIn addition to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, this intervention uses small incentives to reinforce study attendance and gambling abstinence. | Behavioural | Contingency Management |
| Cognitive Behavioural TherapyThis intervention uses psychoeducation, behavioural strategies, and cognitive restructuring to assist the participant in their efforts to become abstinent from gambling. | Behavioural | Cognitive Behavioural Therapy |
Primary outcome
Gambling Abstinence
Time frame: 12 weeks
The total number of sessions that a participant provided evidence of gambling abstinence in the study
2 secondary outcomes
Session Attendance
Time frame: 12-weeks
Study Retention
Time frame: 12-weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 May 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 29615445Christensen DR, Witcher CSG, Leighton T, Hudson-Breen R, Ofori-Dei S. Piloting the addition of contingency management to best practice counselling as an adjunct treatment for rural and remote disordered gamblers: study protocol. BMJ Open. 2018 Apr 3;8(4):e018804. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018804.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Only the research team will have access to the individual participant data
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Darren R Christensen, PhD principal investigator
University of Lethbridge
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Contingency Management and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in people with Gambling Disorder, run by University of Lethbridge at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Darren R Christensen, PhD (403-329-5124, darren.christensen@uleth.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Gambling Abstinence (time frame: 12 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02953899, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 May 2026.