A pilot placebo-controlled study of fluvoxamine for pathological gambling.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fluvoxamine in the treatment of pathological gambling. Thirty-two patients were treated for 6 months in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of fluvoxamine 200 mg/day. Outcome measures included reduction in money and time spent gambling per week. Longitudinal mixed effects models and completers analyses were used for estimation and hypothesis testing. Fluvoxamine was not statistically significantly different from placebo in the overall sample. However, fluvoxamine was statistically significantly superior to placebo in males and in younger patients. The power of the study was limited by the high (59%) placebo-response rate. Fluvoxamine may be a useful treatment for certain subgroups of patients with pathological gambling. Several methodological recommendations are made for future pharmacological trials of pathological gambling.
Blanco
Carlos
C
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. cb255@columbia.edu
Petkova
Eva
E
Ibáñez
Angela
A
Sáiz-Ruiz
Jerónimo
J
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016666:Fluvoxamine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors