Bupropion in the Treatment of Pathological Gambling
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00055393 |
Recruitment Status
:
Completed
First Posted
: March 3, 2003
Last Update Posted
: March 14, 2017
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Pathological Gambling | Drug: Bupropion Drug: Placebo | Not Applicable |
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.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 80 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Bupropion Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Pathological Gambling |
Study Start Date : | July 2002 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | May 2005 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | April 2006 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
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.
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Drug: Bupropion
18 subjects in this randomly controlled double blind study received bupropion.
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Placebo Comparator: Subjects receiving Placebo
The inactive arm subjects in this randomly controlled study (n = 21) received a placebo.
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Drug: Placebo
21 subjects received Placebo.
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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Senior) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
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).

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00055393
United States, Iowa | |
Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa | |
Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242 |
Principal Investigator: | Donald W Black, MD | University of Iowa |
Publications of Results:
Responsible Party: | Donald Black, Professor of and MD in Psychiatry, University of Iowa |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00055393 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
200007038 R21MH063289 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) DSIR AT-AS |
First Posted: | March 3, 2003 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 14, 2017 |
Last Verified: | March 2017 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Plan Description: | There is no plan to share individual participant data. |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Gambling Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders Mental Disorders Bupropion Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation Antidepressive Agents Psychotropic Drugs Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors |
Membrane Transport Modulators Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Dopamine Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 Inhibitors Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors Enzyme Inhibitors |