TerminatedNCT00245583Updated Jul 2, 2019Results posted

Topiramate in the Treatment of Pathological Gambling

A Phase 3 interventional study of Topiramate and Placebo in Pathological Gambling, sponsored by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Terminated at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-07-02.

Sponsored by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was terminated

low enrollment

Phase: Phase 3
Study type: Interventional
Enrollment: 42
Allocation: Randomized
Ages: 18 Years to 70 Years
Sex: All

Study summary

This study will assess the efficacy of topiramate in the treatment of pathological gambling. Pathological gambling (PG) is a debilitating disorder, generally leading to severe personal, familial, financial, social, and occupational impairments. In PG, the patient experiences a progressive inability to resist impulses to gamble, and gambling significantly disrupt the patient's functioning in the personal, familial, and/or vocational spheres. Topiramate has shown preliminary evidence of efficacy in some impulse control disorders.

Read the detailed description

This is a 14-week, outpatient, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose study of topiramate in subjects with pathological gambling. After giving informed consent, subjects who meet all the inclusion and exclusion criteria may be enrolled. The study will consist of three phases:

Washout/Screening Phase (up to 28 days prior to randomization or longer for those medications requiring a longer washout period;
Double-Blind Phase (Titration: up to 6 weeks; Maintenance: 8 weeks); and
Taper Phase (approximately 1 week).

The study medication will be titrated to 300 mg/day or the subject's maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Subjects must reach a minimum dose of 50 mg/day by Week 2. The taper phase will last approximately one week where subjects gradually reduce their medication until they are no longer taking study medication.

Patient may also give an optional blood sample for pharmacogenomic testing

Conditions studied

Pathological Gambling

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Gambling 147

Keywords

Pathological Gambling
Compulsive Gambling
Gambling
topiramate

In context

Gambling

147 studies on the registry are indexed under Gambling; 36 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 42 is below the median of 63 across 120 interventional studies indexed under Gambling.

Browse Gambling studies →

Lead sponsor

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is the lead sponsor of 764 studies on the registry; 181 are open to participants now.

Of its 121 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 82 (68%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

Who can participate

Ages eligible: 18 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible: All
Accepts healthy volunteers: No

Inclusion criteria

Subjects must have a current DSMV-IV-TRTM diagnosis of pathological gambling supported by the Structured Clinical Interview for Pathological Gambling (SCI-PG).
Subjects must have a severity score of ³ 4 (moderately ill) on the Clinical Global Impressions Scale - Severity (CGI-S) at Visit 1A (Day -28).
Subjects must have a severity score of ³5 on the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) at Visit 1B (Day -7).
Subjects must have a score of ³2 for item number 1 on the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS) at Visit 1B (Day -7) and Visit 2 (Day 1).
Subjects must have a minimum score of >10 on the obsession subscale (questions 1-5) of the Pathological Gambling - Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (PG-Y-BOC) at Visits 1B (Day -7) and 2 (Day 1).
Subjects must score ≤15 on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) at Visits 1B (Day -7) and 2 (Day 1).
Subjects must be between 18 and 70 years of age, inclusive.
Subjects must provide contact information for themselves to be used by the site in case of a missed appointment.
Subjects may be male or female and must be in generally good health as confirmed by medical history and physical examination, laboratory tests and vital signs.
Female subjects must be:
- postmenopausal for at least one year, or
- surgically sterile, or
- practicing an effective method of birth control (e.g., oral contraceptives, contraceptive injections, intrauterine device, spermicide with barrier, contraceptive patch, contraceptive vaginal ring, male partner sterilization, or abstinence and agree to continue abstinence or to use an acceptable method of contraception, as listed above, should sexual activity commence) before entry and throughout the study; have a negative urine pregnancy test at Visits 1B (Day -7) and 2 (Day 1).
Subjects must be able to take oral medication, adhere to the medication regimens and be willing to return for regular visits.
Subjects must be able and willing to read written instructions and complete all scales and inventories required by the protocol.
Subjects must have signed an informed consent form indicating that they understand the purpose of and procedures required for the study and are willing to participate.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects with any current Axis I psychiatric disorder as defined by DSM-IV-TRä supported by the SCID-I/P, other than pathological gambling, that in the investigator's judgment might require intervention with either pharmacological or non-pharmacological therapy over the course of the study.
Subjects with a history of personality disorder (e.g., schizotypal or borderline) considered by the investigator to likely interfere with assessment or compliance with treatment.
Subjects who have a current or recent (within 3 months of Visit 2, Day 1) DSM-IV-TRTM diagnosis of substance abuse or dependence, with the exception of nicotine and caffeine abuse or dependence.
Subjects receiving formal psychotherapy for pathological gambling (with the exception of Gamblers Anonymous) within the 4 weeks prior to Visit 1B (Day -7).

Note: Formal psychotherapy is defined as behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, etc. for the treatment of a clinical diagnosis or for which a healthcare professional is billing for such therapy.

Subjects who have begun to receive formal psychotherapy for a psychiatric disorder, other than pathological gambling, within 3 months prior to Visit 1B (Day -7).

Note: Subjects who have been engaged in formal psychotherapy for a condition other than pathological gambling for >3 months and plan to maintain therapy throughout the study will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Subjects with a score of >24 on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at Visit 1B (Day -7) and Visit 2 (Day 1).
Subjects who are expected to stay in a restricted environment.
Subjects who have taken a prohibited medication described in the Concomitant Therapy section of the protocol and who have not met the washout criteria specified in Attachment 15.
Subjects with a positive urine drug screening [benzodiazepines, phencyclidine, cocaine, amphetamines, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and opiates] at Visit 1B (Day -7).

Note: Subjects with a positive urine drug screen for THC may be retested in 7 days and enrolled if they a) continue to meet inclusion/exclusion criteria and b) have a negative urine drug screen upon retest.

Subjects who are pregnant or lactating.
Subjects who are members of the same household.
Subjects with a history of nephrolithiasis.
Subjects known to have clinically significant medical conditions, including but not limited to:
1. symptomatic coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease;
2. malignancy or history of malignancy within the past 5 years (except basal cell carcinoma);
3. renal disease and/or impaired renal function as defined by subjects with an estimated creatinine clearance of £60 mL/min;
4. diseases of the gastrointestinal system including active liver disease;
5. subjects with AST and/or ALT >2 times the upper limit of the normal range and/or an increased serum bilirubin > 2.0 mg/dL at Visit 1B (Day -7); Note: if these values are abnormal they can be re-tested prior to enrollment. If the repeat study is within the limits of the protocol the subject may be randomized.
6. pulmonary disorders including subjects with active tuberculosis;
7. endocrinological disorders;
8. neurological disorders including subjects with seizure disorders and subjects with progressive or degenerative neurological disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis); or I. any disease or condition that compromises the function of those body systems that could result in altered absorption, excess accumulation, or impaired metabolism or excretion of topiramate.
Subjects who have previously been treated with topiramate for any reason and discontinued treatment due to an adverse event or a hypersensitivity reaction to topiramate.
Subjects with prior non-response to topiramate for the treatment of pathological gambling following an adequate trial.
Subjects who in the opinion of the investigator should not be enrolled in the study because of the precautions, warnings or contraindications outlined in the topiramate investigator brochure and/or package insert.
Employees of the investigator or study center, with direct involvement in the proposed study or other studies under the direction of that investigator or study center, as well as family members of the investigator or study center employees.

Study design

Phase: Phase 3
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment: 42 participants (actual)

Study arms

Experimental
Topiramate
25mg to 300mg daily dose
Drug: Topiramate
Placebo comparator
Placebo
placebo equivalent tablets
Drug: Placebo

Interventions

DrugTopiramate
minimum does of 50mg/day
Also known as: Topamax
DrugPlacebo
matching tablet

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

Obsession Component of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale for Pathological Gambling (PG-YBOCS)
The obsessions subscale of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale modified for PG (PG-YBOCS) measures the severity and change in severity of PG symptoms such as thoughts/urges and behaviors and has been shown to be reliable and valid and correlate with global severity and South Oaks Gambling Screen scores. The scale is a clinician-rated, each item rated from 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (extreme symptoms), Each component, Obsession and Compulsion, score ranges from 0-20, yielding a total possible score range from 0 to 40, with higher score indicating more symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline
Obsession Component of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale for Pathological Gambling (PG-YBOCS)
The obsessions subscale of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale modified for PG (PG-YBOCS) measures the severity and change in severity of PG symptoms such as thoughts/urges and behaviors and has been shown to be reliable and valid and correlate with global severity and South Oaks Gambling Screen scores. The scale is a clinician-rated, each item rated from 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (extreme symptoms), Each component, Obsession and Compulsion, score ranges from 0-20, yielding a total possible score range from 0 to 40, with higher score indicating more symptoms.
Time frame: 14 weeks

Secondary outcomes

Gambling-Symptom Assessment Scale Total Score
The Gambling-Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS) is a 12-item self-rated measure that is designed to assess gambling symptom severity and change during treatment. Each item is scored on a 4 point scale from 0-4 with 0 meaning no symptoms and 4 meaning extreme symptoms. The total score is 0 - 48, with higher score indicating more gambling problem. Scores 7 and lower are considered normal behavior, 8-20 are considered a mild gambling problem, 21-30 are considered a moderate gambling problem, 31-40 are considered a severe gambling problem and 40-48 are considered an extreme gambling problem.
Time frame: baseline and 14 weeks
Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11
The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) is a questionnaire designed to assess the personality/behavioral construct of impulsiveness, composed of 30 items describing common impulsive or non-impulsive (for reverse scored items) behaviors and preferences. Subscale attentional score 8-32, subscale motor score 11-44, subscale nonplanning score 11-44, with higher scores for each subscale indicating worse outcomes. Total score from 30-120, with higher score indicating more impulsive symptoms. Items are scored on a 4-point scale: Rarely/Never = 1 Occasionally = 2 Often = 3 Almost Always/Always = 4 Total scores of 72+ = high impulsiveness Total scores between 52 and 71 = within normal limits for impulsiveness Total scores lower than 52 are representative of an individual that is either extremely over-controlled or who has not honestly completed the questionnaire
Time frame: baseline
Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11
The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) is a questionnaire designed to assess the personality/behavioral construct of impulsiveness, composed of 30 items describing common impulsive or non-impulsive (for reverse scored items) behaviors and preferences. Subscale attentional score 8-32, subscale motor score 11-44, subscale nonplanning score 11-44, with higher scores for each subscale indicating worse outcomes. Total score from 30-120, with higher score indicating more impulsive symptoms. Items are scored on a 4-point scale: Rarely/Never = 1 Occasionally = 2 Often = 3 Almost Always/Always = 4 Total scores of 72+ = high impulsiveness Total scores between 52 and 71 = within normal limits for impulsiveness Total scores lower than 52 are representative of an individual that is either extremely over-controlled or who has not honestly completed the questionnaire
Time frame: week 14
Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)
The YMRS is an 11-item scale used to assess the severity of mania and is based on the patient's subjective report of his or her clinical condition over the previous 48 hours. Additional information is based upon clinical observations made during the course of the clinical interview. There are four items that are graded on a 0 to 8 scale (irritability, speech, thought content, and disruptive/aggressive behavior), while the remaining seven items are graded on a 0 to 4 scale. These four items are given twice the weight of the others to compensate for poor cooperation from severely ill patients. YMRS total score varies between zero and 60, with higher score indicating more symptoms. A score of \<= 12 indicates remission of symptoms.
Time frame: baseline and week 14
Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale
The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is a psychological questionnaire used by clinicians to assess the severity of depression among patients who have a diagnosis of depression. The MADRS depression test includes 10 items and uses a 0 to 6 severity scale. Total score from 0-60. Higher scores indicate increasing depressive symptoms.
Time frame: baseline and week 14
The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) - It consists of 14 items, each defined by a series of symptoms. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), with a total score range of 0-56, where \<17 indicates mild severity, 18-24 mild to moderate severity and 25-30 moderate to severe. Higher score indicates more symptoms.
Time frame: baseline and week 14

Results

Posted Jul 2, 2019

Limitations and caveats

Small sample size and short study duration. Selection bias - sample unrepresentative of PG in the community due to exclusion criteria.

Participant flow

Subjects were recruited primarily through community advertisements such as newspapers and targeted advertisements in casinos. Eligible participants were enrolled between October 26, 2005 and May 23, 2008.

Participant flow — Overall Study
Milestone	Topiramate	Placebo
Started	20	22
Completed	14	13
Not completed	6	9
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up	1	5
Withdrew: Adverse event	2	1
Withdrew: Lack of efficacy	1	0
Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject	2	3

Outcome measures

PrimaryObsession Component of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale for Pathological Gambling (PG-YBOCS)

The obsessions subscale of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale modified for PG (PG-YBOCS) measures the severity and change in severity of PG symptoms such as thoughts/urges and behaviors and has been shown to be reliable and valid and correlate with global severity and South Oaks Gambling Screen scores. The scale is a clinician-rated, each item rated from 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (extreme symptoms), Each component, Obsession and Compulsion, score ranges from 0-20, yielding a total possible score range from 0 to 40, with higher score indicating more symptoms.

Time frame:: Baseline
Reported as:: Mean · score on a scale

Obsession Component of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale for Pathological Gambling (PG-YBOCS)
score on a scale	Topiramate	Placebo
Obsessions	12.65 ± 2.08	12.95 ± 2.24
Compulsions	11.10 ± 23.75	12.27 ± 2.91
Total	23.75 ± 4.80	25.23 ± 4.89

PrimaryObsession Component of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale for Pathological Gambling (PG-YBOCS)

Time frame:: 14 weeks
Reported as:: Mean · score on a scale

Obsession Component of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale for Pathological Gambling (PG-YBOCS)
score on a scale	Topiramate	Placebo
Obsessions	6.17 ± 3.28	7.62 ± 3.66
Compulsions	5.28 ± 4.71	6.92 ± 4.48
Total	11.44 ± 7.81	14.54 ± 7.79

SecondaryGambling-Symptom Assessment Scale Total Score

The Gambling-Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS) is a 12-item self-rated measure that is designed to assess gambling symptom severity and change during treatment. Each item is scored on a 4 point scale from 0-4 with 0 meaning no symptoms and 4 meaning extreme symptoms. The total score is 0 - 48, with higher score indicating more gambling problem. Scores 7 and lower are considered normal behavior, 8-20 are considered a mild gambling problem, 21-30 are considered a moderate gambling problem, 31-40 are considered a severe gambling problem and 40-48 are considered an extreme gambling problem.

Time frame:: baseline and 14 weeks
Reported as:: Mean · score on a scale

Gambling-Symptom Assessment Scale Total Score
score on a scale	Topiramate	Placebo
baseline	31.95 ± 7.41	35.73 ± 7.85
14 weeks	19.94 ± 9.18	23.00 ± 11.55

SecondaryBarratt Impulsiveness Scale-11

The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) is a questionnaire designed to assess the personality/behavioral construct of impulsiveness, composed of 30 items describing common impulsive or non-impulsive (for reverse scored items) behaviors and preferences. Subscale attentional score 8-32, subscale motor score 11-44, subscale nonplanning score 11-44, with higher scores for each subscale indicating worse outcomes. Total score from 30-120, with higher score indicating more impulsive symptoms. Items are scored on a 4-point scale: Rarely/Never = 1 Occasionally = 2 Often = 3 Almost Always/Always = 4 Total scores of 72+ = high impulsiveness Total scores between 52 and 71 = within normal limits for impulsiveness Total scores lower than 52 are representative of an individual that is either extremely over-controlled or who has not honestly completed the questionnaire

Time frame:: baseline
Reported as:: Mean · score on a scale

Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11
score on a scale	Topiramate	Placebo
Attentional	18.18 ± 4.03	18.00 ± 4.57
Motor	25.35 ± 3.83	25.27 ± 4.86
Non-planning	30.07 ± 3.91	28.90 ± 5.50
Total	73.59 ± 9.22	72.16 ± 12.50

SecondaryBarratt Impulsiveness Scale-11

Time frame:: week 14
Reported as:: Mean · score on a scale

Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11
score on a scale	Topiramate	Placebo
Attentional	16.83 ± 4.3	17.41 ± 5.13
Motor	22.32 ± 3.37	23.85 ± 5.05
Non-planning	29.00 ± 4.04	30.38 ± 6.10
Total	68.14 ± 8.30	71.66 ± 14.54

SecondaryYoung Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)

The YMRS is an 11-item scale used to assess the severity of mania and is based on the patient's subjective report of his or her clinical condition over the previous 48 hours. Additional information is based upon clinical observations made during the course of the clinical interview. There are four items that are graded on a 0 to 8 scale (irritability, speech, thought content, and disruptive/aggressive behavior), while the remaining seven items are graded on a 0 to 4 scale. These four items are given twice the weight of the others to compensate for poor cooperation from severely ill patients. YMRS total score varies between zero and 60, with higher score indicating more symptoms. A score of \<= 12 indicates remission of symptoms.

Time frame:: baseline and week 14
Reported as:: Mean · score on a scale

Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)
score on a scale	Topiramate	Placebo
Baseline	3.85 ± 3.65	3.95 ± 3.84
14 weeks	2.61 ± 2.97	1.6154 ± 2.02

SecondaryMontgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale

The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is a psychological questionnaire used by clinicians to assess the severity of depression among patients who have a diagnosis of depression. The MADRS depression test includes 10 items and uses a 0 to 6 severity scale. Total score from 0-60. Higher scores indicate increasing depressive symptoms.

Time frame:: baseline and week 14
Reported as:: Mean · score on a scale

Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale
score on a scale	Topiramate	Placebo
Baseline	8.70 ± 8.29	9.54 ± 6.62
week 14	7.06 ± 8.54	4.69 ± 5.74

SecondaryThe Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) - It consists of 14 items, each defined by a series of symptoms. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), with a total score range of 0-56, where \<17 indicates mild severity, 18-24 mild to moderate severity and 25-30 moderate to severe. Higher score indicates more symptoms.

Time frame:: baseline and week 14
Reported as:: Mean · score on a scale

The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
score on a scale	Topiramate	Placebo
Baseline	6.35 ± 3.62	7.68 ± 5.25
week 14	4.94 ± 5.22	5.31 ± 6.99

Adverse events

Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
Group	Deaths	Serious	Other
Topiramate	0/20 (0%)	0/20 (0%)	7/20 (35%)
Placebo	0/22 (0%)	0/22 (0%)	11/22 (50%)

Most frequent other events

Most frequent other events
Event	Topiramate	Placebo
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders	3/20	4/22
HeadacheGeneral disorders	2/20	3/22
TirednessGeneral disorders	1/20	2/22
Shoulder PainMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders	1/20	2/22

Baseline characteristics

Pathological Gamblers meeting criteria

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)	Topiramate	Placebo	Total
Mean	50.45 ± 10.44	44.91 ± 8.01	47.5 ± 9.5

Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)	Topiramate	Placebo	Total
Female	8	15	23
Male	12	7	19

Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)	Topiramate	Placebo	Total
American Indian or Alaska Native	0	0	0
Asian	0	0	0
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0	0	0
Black or African American	7	5	12
White	11	16	27
More than one race	0	0	0
Unknown or Not Reported	2	1	3

Smoking
Smoking(participants)	Topiramate	Placebo	Total
Smoker	8	15	23
Non-smoker	12	7	19

Study locations

1 site

Mount Sinai School of Medicine
New York, New York 10029, United States

References and documents

Publications

Berlin HA, Braun A, Simeon D, Koran LM, Potenza MN, McElroy SL, Fong T, Pallanti S, Hollander E. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of topiramate for pathological gambling. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2013 Mar;14(2):121-8. doi: 10.3109/15622975.2011.560964. Epub 2011 Apr 12. PubMed 21486110 ↗

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026

No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 2, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Registry details

Key details

Study ID: NCT00245583
Lead sponsor: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Collaborators: Ortho-McNeil, Inc.
Responsible party: Sponsor
First posted: Oct 28, 2005
Start date: Oct 2005
Primary completion: May 2009
Completion: May 2009
Results posted: Jul 2, 2019
Last update: Jul 2, 2019

Study contacts

Eric Hollander, MD

principal investigator · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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