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Effects of Positive Psychological Group Psychotherapy and Auricular Acupressure on Withdrawal Symptoms

NCT05241041 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 198

Last updated 2026-03-27

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Objective The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of auricular acupressure and group counseling with positive psychology on gambling severity, withdrawal symptoms, and dopamine.

Methods This study is a randomized controlled trial and has been performed at a University in South Korea. 180 gamblers and 60 non-gamblers will be recruited. In the first year, gamblers will be randomly assigned to two groups: Experimental Group 1 (auricular acupressure); and Control Group 1 (education material to stop and cope withdrawal symptoms). And Normal Group will be recruited independently. Furthermore, a single blind randomized controlled trial will be performed in second and third year. And gamblers will be randomly assigned to three groups: Experimental Group 2 (auricular acupressure + group counseling); Placebo Group (placebo acupressure + group counseling); and Control Group 2 (education material to stop and cope withdrawal symptoms). Auricular acupressure using acupellets is performed for 6 weeks continuously.

Conditions

  • Gambling

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

group counseling

Group counseling with positive psychology and motivational interviewing was undertaken once per week for 6 weeks.

DEVICE

auricular acupressure

Auricular acupressure using acupellets was performed for 6 weeks continuously.

DEVICE

placebo acupressure

Placebo acupellets were prepared without metal projections, and placed on both sides in the same areas of the ear as the active condition.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
19 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2021-09-13
Primary Completion
2025-09-28
Completion
2025-09-28

Countries

  • South Korea

Study Locations

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Entities

Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05241041 on ClinicalTrials.gov