Bupropion in the Treatment of Pathological Gambling

Overview

This study will determine whether the drug bupropion is an effective treatment for Pathological Gambling.

Full Title of Study: “Bupropion Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Pathological Gambling”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Treatment
    • Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: May 2005

Detailed Description

As gambling opportunities proliferate, PG has become a major health concern. Despite its importance, few treatment options with proven efficacy exist. This study will attempt to identify an effective treatment for PG. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either bupropion or placebo for 12 weeks. Participants are assessed at baseline and at Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 12. Self administered questionnaires and interviews are used to assess participants. Follow-up assessments are made 1, 3, and 6 months after study completion.

Interventions

  • Drug: Bupropion
    • 18 subjects in this randomly controlled double blind study received bupropion.
  • Drug: Placebo
    • 21 subjects received Placebo.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Active Comparator: Subjects receivng Bupropion
    • The active arm subjects in this study (n = 18) received flexibly dosed bupropion in this randomized 12-week double-blind trial.
  • Placebo Comparator: Subjects receiving Placebo
    • The inactive arm subjects in this randomly controlled study (n = 21) received a placebo.

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Meet the criteria for Pathological Gambling (DSM-IV-TR), through the administration of the National Opinion Research Center DSM Screen for Gambling Problems(NODS); – Meet the criteria for Pathological Gambling (DSM-IV-TR), through the administration of the National Opinion Research Center DSM Screen for Gambling Problems(NODS); – Receive a score of 5 or more on the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS); – Have PG for at least one year; – Have had at least 2 or more gambling episodes during the 2-week screening period; – Speak standard English; – Be able to give written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria:

  • Evidence of current (past 3 months) substance misuse; – Had a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)27 score of 18 or more (or a score on item 1 of greater than 2; – Had a current eating disorder (except binge eating disorder); – Had any history of seizures, or suicidal or aggressive behavior; – Had a urine drug screen positive for stimulants, opiates, hallucinogens, or phencyclidine; – Had a current or past psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or significant cognitive disorder; – Received monoamine oxidase inhibitors within 3 weeks of randomization, long acting phenothiazine within 3 months of randomization,fluoxetine within 4 weeks of randomization, or other psychotropic drugs within 2 weeks of randomization; – Had prior exposure to bupropion; – Were engaged in individual, group, or couples psychotherapy during the 2 weeks before randomization, (except Gamblers Anonymous).

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • University of Iowa
  • Collaborator
    • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: Donald Black, Professor of and MD in Psychiatry – University of Iowa
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Donald W Black, MD, Principal Investigator, University of Iowa

Citations Reporting on Results

Black DW, Arndt S, Coryell WH, Argo T, Forbush KT, Shaw MC, Perry P, Allen J. Bupropion in the treatment of pathological gambling: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose study. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2007 Apr;27(2):143-50. doi: 10.1097/01.jcp.0000264985.25109.25.

Clinical trials entries are delivered from the US National Institutes of Health and are not reviewed separately by this site. Please see the identifier information above for retrieving further details from the government database.

At TrialBulletin.com, we keep tabs on over 200,000 clinical trials in the US and abroad, using medical data supplied directly by the US National Institutes of Health. Please see the About and Contact page for details.