Brief motivational interventions for college student problem gamblers

Abstract

Aims: College students experience high rates of problem and pathological gambling, yet little research has investigated methods for reducing gambling in this population. This study sought to examine the efficacy of brief intervention strategies.

Design: Randomized trial.

Setting: College campuses.

Participants: A total of 117 college student problem and pathological gamblers.

Interventions: Students were assigned randomly to: an assessment-only control, 10 minutes of brief advice, one session of motivational enhancement therapy (MET) or one session of MET, plus three sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The three interventions were designed to reduce gambling.

Measurements: Gambling was assessed at baseline, week 6 and month 9 using the Addiction Severity Index-gambling (ASI-G) module, which also assesses days and dollars wagered.

Findings: Compared to the assessment-only condition, those receiving any intervention had significant decreases in ASI-G scores and days and dollars wagered over time. The MET condition decreased significantly ASI-G scores and dollars wagered over time, and increased the odds of a clinically significant reduction in gambling at the 9-month follow-up relative to the assessment-only condition, even after controlling for baseline indices that could impact outcomes. The Brief Advice and MET+CBT conditions had benefits on some, but not all, indices of gambling. None of the interventions differed significantly from one another. Conclusions These results suggest the efficacy of brief interventions for reducing gambling problems in college students.

Figure 1

Flow of participants through study protocol. Please note that the method of screening (in classrooms versus in response to flyers) was not recorded so this information cannot be separated out.

Figure 2

Addiction Severity Index (ASI) Gambling scores by days since randomization to a treatment condition. Values represent past-month measures and are estimates from random effects regression analyses, and as such do not always match raw means presented in Table 2. MET = Motivational Enhancement Therapy; MET+CBT = Motivational Enhancement Therapy plus Cognitive-Behavioral.

Figure 3

Days wagered per month by days since randomization to a treatment condition. Values plotted are square root transformed means. Values represent past-month measures and are estimates from random effects regression analyses, and as such do not always match raw means presented in Table 2. MET = Motivational Enhancement Therapy; MET+CBT = Motivational Enhancement Therapy plus Cognitive-Behavioral.

Figure 4

Dollars wagered per month by days since randomization to a treatment condition. Values plotted are log transformed means. Values represent past-month measures and are estimates from random effects regression analyses, and as such do not always match raw means presented in Table 2. MET = Motivational Enhancement Therapy; MET+CBT = Motivational Enhancement Therapy plus Cognitive-Behavioral.