Each participant will be required to complete 9 visits at the University of Iowa and 3 follow-up contacts over the course of the study. There will be two physical exams and two ECG’s during this time to monitor physical changes as the study proceeds. Routine blood work will be performed at 4 of the visits, and 3 visits will require urine drug screens to monitor adherence to the inclusion criteria. Interview questions and various assessments will be completed at each visit to help evaluate the changes in gambling behavior that the patient is experiencing.

Signs of Pathological Gambling

• Preoccupation with gambling
• Increased betting to maintain excitement
• Irritability, restlessness, or inability to cut back or control gambling
• Gambling to escape problems or to feel better
• Returning to gambling environment to "get even" over gambling loss
• Lying about gambling behavior
• Participation in illegal acts to finance gambling
• Job, education, or relationship loss due to gambling
• Relying on other’s help with finances because of gambling

Who Should Contact Us?

Any person who feels that their gambling behavior is out of control, or any person who has a family member with such a gambling problem who would be willing to participate in the study, should contact the study coordinator at 319-353-3904. Willing participants will be questioned briefly over the phone and will be informed of the study details.

Benefits of Participation

• Contributing to the learning of whether bupropion is effective in treatment pathological gambling, and how it’s use may affect gambling behaviors.
• Gaining a better understanding of pathological gambling, signs and symptoms, and also resources that may be able to offer help.
• Helping develop an awareness of pathological gambling as a problem that is present in our society
• Free routine physical examinations.
• Compensation provided.

Contact Information:

Martha Shaw
Clinical Trials Coordinator
University of Iowa
Department of Psychiatry
Phone: 319-353-3904
Toll free: 800-777-8442 (Request ext. 353-9904)
Email: martha-shaw@uiowa.edu

Please contact the above with any questions between the hours of 8 a.m.—5 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Messages left after hours will be returned promptly the following day.