The Effect of Self Stigma Tailored Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Gambling Disorder

The goal of this clinical trial was to evaluate whether a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program focused on self-stigma could help reduce both self-stigma and gambling disorder severity in adults diagnosed with gambling disorder. The main questions it aimed to answer were: Did self-stigma-focused CBT lower self-stigmatizing thoughts in individuals with gambling disorder? Did the severity of gambling disorder symptoms decrease after the intervention? Did these changes remain stable after the treatment ended? Did self-stigma play a role in how the treatment worked? Participants were assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Completed assessments before the treatment, after the treatment, and during the 1 month follow-up period. Participants in the intervention group: Received four sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (face-to-face or online) targeting self-stigmatizing thoughts related to gambling Researchers compared the intervention and control groups to observe whether self-stigmatization affected treatment outcomes. Surveys used in this study included a self-stigma scale and the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). A total of 26 participants (13 in each group) were enrolled in the study; in addition, 3 extra participants per group were included to account for possible dropouts. The results were analyzed using statistical methods.

NCT Number	NCT06943963
Lead Sponsor	Ege University
Conditions	Gambling Addiction, Gambling Disorder, Gambling Disorder Treatment, Stigma, Stigma of Mental Illness, Self Stigma, CBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Enrollment	26 participants
Start Date	2024-04-01
Primary Completion	2024-09-30 (estimated)
Study Completion	2024-11-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-02-05