Effectiveness of Internet-Based Personalized Normative Feedback Among Individuals Experiencing Problem Gambling:...

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Digital Health Interventions
• Addiction Research

Background:

• Problem gambling is a significant public health issue with substantial personal and societal costs.
• Existing interventions often face barriers to access and engagement.
• Internet-based interventions offer a scalable solution for reaching individuals with gambling problems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a fully automated, Internet-based personalized normative feedback intervention (GAMCHECK) compared to an assessment-only (AO) condition for problem gambling.
• To assess GAMCHECK's impact on gambling symptoms, cognitions, and behaviors at 12-week follow-up.

Main Methods:

• A randomized parallel-group superiority trial involving 274 participants was conducted online.
• Participants received either GAMCHECK or AO, with outcomes assessed via Internet-based questionnaires.
• Primary outcome was the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (GSAS); secondary outcomes included the Gambling Related Cognitions Scale (GRCS), Patient Global Impression of Change (PGI-C), gambling frequency, spending, and help-seeking behaviors.

Main Results:

• GAMCHECK showed superiority over AO in reducing gambling symptoms (GSAS), gambling days, money spent, and cognitive distortions (GRCS) by the 12-week follow-up.
• Improvements in cognitive distortion mediated the reduction in gambling symptoms.
• No significant effects were observed for help-seeking behaviors, indicating a need for further intervention refinement.

Conclusions:

• Fully automated, Internet-based personalized normative feedback (GAMCHECK) is effective in improving key indicators of problem gambling, including symptoms, frequency, and financial impact.
• Cognitive factors play a crucial role in the efficacy of such interventions.
• Further development of GAMCHECK is required to effectively promote help-seeking behaviors among individuals with gambling problems.