Testing Contingency Management Added to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Treating Gambling Disorder in Rural and Remote Areas

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the use of contingency management alongside cognitive behavioural therapy CBT as a treatment for people with gambling disorder living in rural and remote areas. This randomized clinical trial aims to see if adding contingency management improves attendance and retention in counselling sessions compared to CBT alone. The study uses internet video-conferencing to make counselling accessible for participants who might otherwise have difficulty receiving care. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either CBT alone or CBT combined with contingency management CM. The CM group earns points for attending sessions and showing evidence of gambling abstinence, which they can redeem for goods from online stores. Both groups will attend online counselling sessions three times per week for 12 weeks. The full participation period lasts 14 weeks, including one week of assessments before treatment and one week after. During the study, participants complete assessments before and after treatment to evaluate clinical, psychological, and behavioral aspects, including substance use. These assessments take about 30 to 45 minutes. The principal investigator conducts brief progress check-ups during treatment. A smaller group of participants, counsellors, and community members will share their experiences in interviews lasting 30 to 60 minutes. Researchers focus on measuring gambling abstinence, session attendance, and study retention throughout the 12-week treatment.

Contingency Management as an Adjunct Treatment for Rural and Remote Disordered Gamblers