Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Gambling Disorder

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, LILLE · Jul 8, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new treatment for people struggling with gambling disorder (GD), which is a type of addiction recognized in mental health guidelines. The researchers want to see if Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) can help reduce cravings related to gambling more effectively than traditional methods. VRET uses a virtual environment to simulate gambling situations, allowing patients to face their triggers in a safe space. The goal is to compare the effectiveness of VRET with standard Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that uses imagination to help patients cope with their cravings.

To participate in this study, individuals must be seeking treatment for gambling disorder and meet certain criteria, such as having a specific gambling frequency and understanding French. They should not currently be receiving treatment for this issue. Participants can expect to engage in therapy sessions that may involve using virtual reality equipment to help them address their gambling cravings. It’s important to note that people with certain visual or balance disorders, pregnant women, and others under specific legal protections are not eligible to join. This study aims to provide new insights into treating gambling disorder, making it easier for those affected to find effective help.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Seek treatment for GD within one of health care facilities participating in the research (first request for treatment and not patients already receiving treatment for gambling disorder in the care center).
• • Meet a current diagnosis of gambling disorder according to DSM-5 criteria and with a South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) score ≥ 5
• • Meet a casino gambling behavior with a casino gambling frequency ≥ 1 time every two months during the last 12 months
• • Have a sufficient understanding of French for therapy
• • Beneficiary of the French social security system
• • Give an informed consent to participate
• • Willing to comply with all study procedures and duration
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Visual disturbance making impossible the use of virtual reality equipment (e.g. advanced retinal degeneration, central scotoma, age-related macular degeneration)
• • Pregnant woman
• • Minor or adult under guardianship, conservatorship, under judicial protection, persons deprived of their liberty
• • Balance disorder (e.g. cerebellar disorder, inner ear disorder)
• • Photosensitive epilepsy
• • Refusal to participate