Web-Based Intervention and Email-Counseling for Problem Gamblers: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Digital Health Interventions
• Addiction Treatment

Background:

• Web-based interventions offer scalable solutions for problem gambling, addressing a treatment gap.
• Limited research exists on the efficacy of available online interventions for gambling disorder.
• The German Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) provides online support options for problem gamblers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of two distinct web-based interventions: a guided program "Check Out" (CO) and email counseling (EC).
• To compare the effectiveness of CO and EC against a waitlist (WL) control group.
• To assess long-term effects of these interventions on gambling behavior and well-being.

Main Methods:

• A web-based randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 167 participants allocated to CO, EC, or WL.
• Follow-up assessments conducted at 3, 6, and 12 months post-intervention.
• Outcomes measured included problem gambling severity (Problem Gambling Severity Index), gambling frequency, highest stake, and subjective well-being (WHO-5).

Main Results:

• CO demonstrated significant improvements in all measured outcomes compared to WL at 3 months, with moderate to strong effect sizes sustained over 12 months.
• EC showed significant improvements in problem gambling severity compared to WL.
• No significant differences in efficacy were found between CO and EC, but CO users reported a stronger working alliance and longer engagement.

Conclusions:

• The guided online program "Check Out" (CO) is an effective intervention for reducing problem gambling severity and enhancing well-being.
• CO appears to be a more engaging and supportive option than email counseling (EC) due to its structure and user interaction.
• Web-based interventions like CO hold significant potential for accessible and sustained treatment of gambling disorder.