Indicated Prevention With At-Risk Gamblers

Primary Outcome Measures:

• South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) [ Time Frame: 6-Months ]
  The 20-item South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) measures gambling involvement and problem severity based on DSM-III-R pathological gambling criteria.
  
  
• Gambling Quantity and Perceived Norms Scale (GQPN) [ Time Frame: 6 Months ]
  The gambling quantity and perceived norms scale (GQPN) includes a six-item expenditure subscale assessing amount of money won/lost through gambling on a 10-point scale from $0 to more than $2000 over time-periods from the past month to past year. Additional items assess gambling frequency (on a 10-point scale from never to every day in the past year), disposable income (on an 11-point scale from less than $50 to more than $500 per month) and perceptions of gambling frequency and expenditure for the typical college student (perceived norms). Gambling expenditure was calculated as the expenditure subscale mean residualized on disposable income.
  
  
• Gambling Frequency (SOGS) [ Time Frame: 6 Months ]
  The SOGS was modified to assess internet gambling frequency and expand gambling frequency response options from a three- to a five-point scale with anchors of no times, one to 10 times, more than 10 times, less than weekly, weekly or more than weekly but less than daily, and daily. This modified frequency scale has been shown to correlate highly with other measures of gambling frequency.
  
  
• Gambling Problems Index (GPI) [ Time Frame: 6 Months ]
  Gambling problems (or negative consequences) were assessed using the 20-item Gambling Problems Index (GPI). Participants indicated how often, from never to more than 10 times in the past 6 months, they experienced consequences while, or as a result of, gambling.
  
  
• National Opinion Research Center DSM-IV Screen for Pathological Gambling (NODS) [ Time Frame: 6 Months ]
  DSM-IV [1] criteria for pathological gambling were assessed using the 17-item National Opinion Research Center DSM-IV Screen (NODS). Some criteria have multiple items, but possible scores range from 0-10 DSM-IV criteria endorsed in the past 6 months.
  
  

Secondary Outcome Measures:

• Illusions of Control [ Time Frame: 6 Months ]
  Illusions of control were assessed via a six-item subscale from the Beliefs About Control Scale (BACS), on a five-point scale ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree.
  
  

Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to a personal feedback intervention (PFI) or assessment only for 3 years. The PFI intervention will be delivered in a single session. Measures will include the NORC DSM Screen for Problem Gambling (NODS), the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), Gambling Quantity and Perceived Norms, Perceived Injunctive Gambling Norms, Gambling Problems Index, gambling frequency, attitudes and beliefs about gambling and self-control, readiness to change, gambling expectancies, gambling motives, gambling risk perception, psychiatric symptoms, assertiveness, coping skills, substance use, alcohol-related problems, self-determination, and social desirability.