Study of the Neural Substrates of Alcohol Craving by High-resolution Electroencephalography (CRAVING-NET)

This is an interventional basic science trial for Alcoholism focused on measuring alcoholism, electroencephalography, brain activity Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients (N=20):

• Subject with moderate to severe DSM-5 alcohol use disorder hospitalized for withdrawal as part of their routine care.
• Presence of spontaneous and/or in response to environmental stimuli (induced) self-described episodes of craving.
• Males with age ≥ 30 years and ≤ 60 years;
• Normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity (declarative);
• Right-handed;

Healthy control volunteers (N=40):

• Men with age ≥ 30 years and ≤ 60 years;
• Normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity;
• Right-handed;
• Smoker (current user, N=20) or Nonsmoker (never smoked, N=20);
• Alcohol consumption below the low-risk drinking threshold (<10 standard drinks per week)

Exclusion Criteria:

For all subjects:

• Alcohol use in the 24 hours prior to the experiment;
• Consumption of psychoactive substances other than tobacco and alcohol (positive urine test).
• Presence of a contraindication related to the MRI technique
• Being under legal protection, and/or deprived of freedom;
• Not mastering the French language (written and oral);
• Inability to understand the information given on the study and/or to carry out the experimental task.

For patients:

• Presence of cognitive impairment (MoCA score < 25)
• Absence of spontaneous or induced craving episodes
• Decompensated cirrhosis: ascites and/or encephalopathy and/or jaundice and/or recent hemorrhage

For healthy control volunteers:

• Significant medical or surgical history related to the central nervous system;
• Current use (< 30 days) of drugs affecting the central nervous system belonging to the class of antidepressants, sleeping pills and/or anxiolytics.