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

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This is a randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of a game-based intervention to reduce alcohol-related harms among sexual and gender minority youth.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

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

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment for excessive alcohol consumption?

Research shows that psychosocial treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy are effective for alcohol problems. Additionally, a study found that a computer simulation game helped improve self-control and confidence in managing alcohol use, suggesting that game-based interventions can be a useful part of treatment. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is game-based intervention for alcohol use generally safe for humans?

The studies on game-based interventions for alcohol use, such as serious games and cognitive bias modification, do not report any specific safety concerns, suggesting they are generally safe for human use. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How is the Game-Based Intervention for Excessive Alcohol Consumption treatment different from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it uses a game-based approach to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can make the therapy more engaging and help maintain adherence to the program. Unlike traditional methods, this approach leverages the interactive and immersive nature of games to potentially reduce attentional bias towards alcohol, making it a novel way to address excessive alcohol consumption. ^{3 7 8 11 12}

Research Team

Robert WS Coulter, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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]

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Curbing problem drinking with personalized-feedback interventions: a meta-analysis. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Computer simulation games as an adjunct for treatment in male veterans with alcohol use disorder. [2015]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a Cognitive-Behavioral Game Design-Based Mobile Game on Alcohol Use for Adolescents. [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Conceptual and methodological issues in treatment outcome research. [2019]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effectiveness of psychosocial modalities in the treatment of alcohol problems in adults: a review of the evidence. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Training Behavioral Control in Adolescents Using a Serious Game. [2018]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reducing Attentional Bias in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorders With a Tablet Application: A Randomized Controlled Trial Pilot Study. [2020]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a Smartphone Application on the Reduction of Attentional Bias Toward Alcohol Among Students&#8224;. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a simulated drinking game procedure to study risky alcohol use. [2013]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Extension of the simulated drinking game procedure to multiple drinking games. [2015]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Drinking games and problems related to drinking among moderate and heavy drinkers. [2006]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The utility of the AUDIT in screening for drinking game involvement among female college students. [2015]