Feasibility, Acceptance, and Safety of Metacognitive Training for Problem and Pathological Gamblers (Gambling-MCT): A Pi
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Feasibility, Acceptance, and Safety of Metacognitive Training for Problem and Pathological Gamblers (Gambling‑MCT): A Pilot Study Josefine Gehlenborg1 · Lara Bücker1 · Mira Berthold1 · Franziska Miegel1 · Steffen Moritz1 Accepted: 7 September 2020 © The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Approximately 90% of problem and pathological gamblers remain untreated. This treatment gap may be diminished by the implementation of low-threshold treatment programs. As cognitive distortions play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of gambling problems, interventions targeting gambling-related biases may be particularly effective. The aim of the present study was to examine the feasibility, acceptance, and safety of a novel metacognitive training for individuals with gambling problems (Gambling-MCT). Twenty-five participants were included in an uncontrolled pilot trial with two assessment points (intervention). The intervention comprised eight training modules targeting gambling-specific cognitive distortions. At baseline and post assessment, symptom severity, as measured with the PG-YBOCS, and gambling-related cognitive distortions, as measured with the GABS, were assessed. In addition, interim assessments measuring session-specific changes were conducted. Subjective appraisal was examined after each module and also post treatment. On average, participants took part in 4.16 (SD = 2.84) training sessions. Both intent-to-treat and per protocol analyses showed significant improvements on the PGYBOCS and the GABS (dz = 0.37–1.37). After Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, linear mixed models for the analysis of session-specific changes showed no deterioration in participants’ mental state after any of the modules. Subjective appraisal of Gambling-MCT was good. The present pilot study provides first evidence for the feasibility, acceptance, and safety of Gambling-MCT. Recruitment of participants remains challenging, emphasizing the importance of overcoming patient-related treatment barriers. Future studies need to investigate the efficacy of Gambling-MCT in randomized controlled trials. Keywords Gambling · Metacognition · Treatment · Feasibility · Acceptance · Safety
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s1089 9-020-09975-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Josefine Gehlenborg [email protected] 1
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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Vol.:(0123456789)
Journal of Gambling Studies
Introduction Archaeological findings suggest that games of chance go back to approximately 4000 years BC (Hunt and Blaszczynski 2019). Over the centuries, gambling has become a common leisure activity, and it is estimated that more than 70% of people of legal age have participated in gambling activities at least once (Kessler et al. 2008; Meyer et al. 2011). Although gambling is in most cases unproblematic, a subgroup of gamblers d
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