Game-Based Intervention for Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Overseen By Robert WS Coulter, PhD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

Disqualifiers: Cisgender heterosexuals

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

1992 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a game-based intervention to determine its effectiveness in reducing alcohol-related issues among sexual and gender minority youth. Participants will play either the Singularities Game, designed to educate and improve decision-making about alcohol, or the Food4Thought game, which focuses on nutrition and budgeting. The trial seeks participants who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender, or nonbinary, live in the U.S., and have either tried alcohol or plan to in the next year. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could benefit the community.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Studies have shown that playing online games is generally safe for most people. Although specific safety data for the Singularities Game is unavailable, similar educational games have not been linked to serious health risks. This game aims to reduce alcohol-related problems, potentially benefiting mental health.

Research indicates that excessive gaming, especially when combined with heavy drinking, can sometimes lead to mental health issues. However, the Singularities Game differs by focusing on education and promoting healthier habits, rather than solely providing entertainment.

In summary, while direct safety data for the Singularities Game is lacking, similar educational games are typically safe and may help improve health by reducing harmful behaviors. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the game-based intervention for excessive alcohol consumption because it offers a fresh, interactive approach to tackling this issue. Unlike traditional treatments, which often involve counseling or medication, the Singularities Game uses an engaging, online platform to potentially modify behavior through gameplay. This method aims to make learning about the consequences of excessive drinking more compelling and accessible, particularly for younger audiences who are familiar with digital environments. By leveraging the power of game mechanics, this treatment could inspire lasting change in a way that traditional methods might not.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for reducing excessive alcohol consumption?

Research has shown that games can help reduce behaviors related to alcohol use. In one study with 140 participants, a mobile game designed with cognitive behavioral techniques lowered the intention to drink alcohol. Another study found that online games reduced alcohol cravings in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). In this trial, participants will engage with the Singularities Game, an online game that might help reduce alcohol consumption among sexual and gender minority youth. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Robert WS Coulter, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for U.S. youth aged 14-18 who identify as part of the sexual and gender minority groups (like gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender or nonbinary) and have access to an internet-capable device with an email address. Cisgender heterosexual individuals cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

Live in the U.S.

Provide an email address

I identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Exclusion Criteria

I identify as a cisgender heterosexual.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in a game-based intervention to reduce alcohol-related harms

3 months

Delivered online

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Psychosocial Education
• Singularities Game

Trial Overview The study tests a game-based intervention called Singularities Game against psychosocial education to see if it can help reduce excessive alcohol use among these youths. It's a randomized controlled trial where participants are randomly assigned to interventions.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Singularities Game Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Singularities is an online game.

Group II: Food4Thought Active Control 1 Intervention

Food4Thought is an attention control condition in which we provide participants with similar amounts of research team contact and program contact as the intervention. Participants will play the game Pick Your Plate! A Global Guide to Nutrition, developed by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. Participants are instructed to build healthy meals using cuisine from around the world while ensuring they stick to a budget and meet all their nutritional needs. Food4Thought will be delivered via Qualtrics.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials

865

Recruited

1,091,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A study with 140 participants found that a cognitive behavioral game design (CBGD) mobile game effectively decreased participants' intent to use alcohol and increased their knowledge about alcohol use.

While the mobile game was better at improving knowledge, watching a video documentary was more effective in reducing actual alcohol use, suggesting different strengths in the two intervention methods.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a Cognitive-Behavioral Game Design-Based Mobile Game on Alcohol Use for Adolescents. Yap, AGH., Roy, RED., Lasala, JRS., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 41 male veterans with alcohol use disorders, participants who played a simulation video game showed significant reductions in obsessive-compulsive drinking behaviors and increased self-efficacy in relapse prevention after 8 weeks.

Although there was no difference in relapse rates between the video game group and those who viewed educational slides, the positive changes in self-efficacy suggest that the simulation could be a beneficial addition to traditional treatment methods for AUD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Computer simulation games as an adjunct for treatment in male veterans with alcohol use disorder. Verduin, ML., LaRowe, SD., Myrick, H., et al.[2015]

The serious game training 'The Fling' was developed to help adolescents improve their behavioral control regarding alcohol use, and it was tested with 185 participants aged around 15 years in a randomized controlled trial.

While the game showed promise in motivating adolescents and improving behavioral control over time, the effects on actual drinking behavior were not significant, indicating that further research is needed to determine its effectiveness as a cognitive training tool.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Training Behavioral Control in Adolescents Using a Serious Game. Boendermaker, WJ., Veltkamp, RC., Peeters, M.[2018]

Citations

1. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-binge-drinking-10-2024-6f31b

Game-Based Intervention for Excessive Alcohol ... A study with 140 participants found that a cognitive behavioral game design (CBGD) mobile game effectively decreased participants' intent to use alcohol and ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6527943/

The associations between low-level gaming, high-level ... The current study aimed to investigate associations between gaming and different patterns of problematic alcohol use.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10664013/

Effectiveness of Reducing Craving in Alcohol Use Disorder ... This study aims to evaluate the web-based serious game SALIENCE (Stop Alcohol in Everyday Life-New Choices and Evaluations) as an add-on therapy for AUD.

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/330515056_Alcohol_use_psychiatric_disorders_and_gambling_behaviors_A_multi-sample_study_testing_causal_relationships_via_the_co-twin_control_design

Alcohol use, psychiatric disorders and gambling behaviors Alcohol Use, Psychiatric Disorders and Gambling Behaviors: A Multi-Sample Study Testing Causal Relationships via the Co-Twin Control Design.

5. recoveryanswers.org recoveryanswers.org/research-post/can-human-support-enhance-effectiveness-digital-alcohol-use-intervention/

Can human support enhance the effectiveness of a digital ... Across all three groups, the percentage of heavy drinking days decreased from 38.4% at baseline to 22.5% at 12-month follow up. There was no difference on the ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12399756/

Associations between alcohol consumption and spending ... Results suggest that drinking alcohol while gaming may be associated with risky engagement with, and increased spending on, loot boxes. Keywords ...

7. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.685964/full

Problematic Use of Alcohol and Online Gaming as Coping ... Over time, frequent or excessive alcohol consumption and gaming could lead to an increased risk of more serious mental health problems. Every effort should be ...

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/49829917_The_Co-occurrence_of_Gambling_with_Substance_Use_and_Conduct_Disorder_among_Youth_in_the_United_States

The Co-occurrence of Gambling with Substance Use and ... The co-occurrence of gambling with substance use and conduct disorder was examined in a representative U.S. household sample of 2,274 youth ...

9. catalog.usm.maine.edu catalog.usm.maine.edu/content.php?catoid=15&navoid=784&p901=2&print=&expand=1

Course Description by Department/Program Data mining is the process of discovering patterns in data to obtain actionable insights. This course will use real-world data and popular analytic ...