Semantic Networks in Alcohol Use Disorder Patients: Exploratory Study
Alcohol Use DisorderAlcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a major public health problem, characterized by a high rate of relapse. Chronic and excessive alcohol consumption notably induces frontal brain alterations and cognitive impairments such as executive dysfunction and an attentional bias for alcohol, participating to the risk of relapse. In effect, AUD patients preferentially process alcohol-related cues, which could reflect a reorganization of the patients' semantic network. The investigators hypothesize that in AUD patients, semantic associations in memory are reorganized with a higher centrality of alcohol-related elements. To the investigators knowledge, no studies have explored semantic associations and/or semantic networks in AUD. A study, conducted in patients with neurological damage, showed that frontal lesions are associated with excessive strength in semantic associations, and difficulties to generate remote associations. This excessive strength in semantic associations could reduce the ability to inhibit automatisms and to adapt to new context. Objective: The objective of this study is to explore whether and how AUD patients have a different organization of semantic associations than healthy controls, and whether this reorganization influences the alcohol consumption over the months following the withdrawal. The investigators will also explore how it relates to neuropsychological assessment of flexibility, executive functions, and impulsivity. To these purposes, the investigators will use two original verbal tasks (Free Generation of Associates Task, FGAT and Associative Judgment Task, AJT) assessing word associations and allowing the estimation of semantic networks using graph theory, in combination with neuropsychological testing, in AUD patients and in healthy controls. Methods: This study will include a group of 30 AUD patients and a group of 30 healthy controls. Both groups will be assessed twice, at baseline (T1; early in abstinence for AUD patients) and after a three-month period (T3). For the two groups, T1 and T3 assessments will include the two semantic association tasks (FGAT and AJT). For AUD patients, assessments will also involve neuropsychological testing of impulsivity, flexibility, and attentional bias. Besides, in AUD patients, data about alcohol consumptions will be collected six weeks (T2) and three months (T3) following the baseline assessment to classify patients as relapsers or abstainers.
Cue Effects in Human Addiction: Pavlovian to Instrumental Transfer
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)Alcoholism5 moreIndividuals with substance use disorders (SUD) have to cope with drug-related cues and contexts, which can affect instrumental drug seeking as shown with Pavlovian to instrumental transfer (PIT) paradigms in animals and humans. The investigators aimed to investigate the impact of acute and chronic stress on Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT), how PIT it is associated with cognitive control abilities and whether such effects predict losing vs. regaining control in subjects with AUD. Moreover, the investigators aimed to develop a novel full transfer task that assesses both, general and specific PIT to investigate whether specific PIT differs between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and control subjects.
Integration of Cognitive Processing Therapy and Relapse Prevention for Alcohol Use Disorder and...
Posttraumatic Stress DisorderAlcohol Use DisorderThe goal of this clinical trial is to test the efficacy of a novel integrative cognitive-behavioral intervention in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Specific Aim 1: Examine the efficacy of CPT-RP, as compared to RP alone, in reducing alcohol frequency (percent days drinking) and quantity (drinks per drinking day) as measured by the Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB). Specific Aim 2: Examine the efficacy of CPT-RP, as compared to RP alone, in reducing PTSD symptoms as measured by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5). Specific Aim 3: Use ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to evaluate intervention effects on daily alcohol-related cognitions and behaviors through real-time associations with PTSD symptomatology and distress tolerance. Researchers will compare integrative CPT+RP with RP-alone to see if CPT+RP is more efficacious in reducing alcohol use and PTSD symptom severity.
Digital Human-Based Brief Interventions for Harmful Alcohol Use: The PAHOLA Project
Alcohol DrinkingAlcoholismAlcohol use disorders are among the most prevalent mental disorders in Canada; however, due to numerous barriers, including fear of treatment, privacy concerns, stigma, time conflicts, and lack of availability of treatment, less than 10% of people with alcohol dependence receive treatment. Accordingly, there is a need to expand treatment coverage for alcohol use disorders, especially for populations which face barriers to receiving treatment. The objective of this proposed project is to develop a digital health worker, named PAHOLA, which can effectively deliver interventions to people who would not otherwise receive such treatment. To achieve this objective, the following research aims will be addressed: To develop a digital human-based intervention that can initiate change processes and reduce alcohol use by applying the principles of motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in a credible manner. To assess the impact of the virtual care provided by PAHOLA on health outcomes using a randomized controlled study design (RCT) to assess potential effect sizes for a larger future RCT. If successful, the PAHOLA project has the potential to transform our ability to prevent alcohol-attributable harms in Canada by promoting health, health equity, and well-being, especially among those people who do not normally receive treatment for harmful alcohol use.
A First in Human Study of CMND-100 in Healthy and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Subjects
Alcohol Use DisorderThe primary objective of this study is to find the tolerable dose and characterize the safety and pharmacokinetics/ pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of single and repeated dose of CMND-100 in healthy and AUD subjects. The secondary objective of this study is to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of CMND-100 in reduction of drinking patterns and craving in individuals with moderate to severe AUD.
Mortality Reductions Based on AUD/Heavy Alcohol Use, HIV Risk, and Cardiovascular Risk
Cardiovascular DiseaseAlcohol Use Disorder2 moreThe purpose of this research study is to investigate if a personalized intervention including parts such as navigation (focus on patient outreach efforts, missed and completed encounters), personalization (individual health benefits) and compensation (value health-related costs borne by patients) will help people reduce their chances of dying from preventable causes, including heart attacks, strokes, drinking alcohol, substance abuse, HIV, and other conditions.
Pregnenolone for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol Use DisorderThis Phase 2 randomized cotrolled trial (RCT) will assess the safety and efficacy of pregnenolone (PREG; 300 mg/day, b.i.d dosing) vs. placebo (PBO) over a 12 week treatment period, and at 1-month post-treatment follow-up in individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
Emergency Department-Initiated Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol Use DisorderThe proposed study will be the first randomized clinical trial to evaluate a comprehensive Emergency Department (ED)-based intervention for moderate to severe Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) combining Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) with ED-initiated medications for treatment of alcohol use disorder (MAUD). The primary objective of this phase 3 study is to evaluate for differences in treatment engagement 30 days after ED visit between emergency department patients with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) who are randomized to initiate medications for the treatment for AUD in the ED in addition to receiving a brief intervention and referral to ongoing treatment, which all participants will receive. The secondary objective of this study is to evaluate the difference in reduction of heavy drinking days between the two ED treatment models during the 30 days post ED visit.
Evaluation of PRYSHM for LGBTQIA2S+ Youth
Dating ViolenceAlcohol DrinkingThe overarching goal of the proposed project is to develop an innovative, online synchronous DV and AU prevention curriculum created specifically for SGMY (ages 15 to 18); conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial to assess its feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and study procedures; identify preliminary outcomes of the intervention; and ensure that the intervention is working equally well for SGMY of color.
Inhibitory Control Smartphone App
DrinkingAlcohol1 moreThe proposed study will address a critical knowledge gap: there are no evidence-based smartphone apps for reducing young adult drinking. The purpose of the study is to test alcohol-related smartphone applications designed to provide assistance during actual drinking situations to help young adults reduce their drinking. It is the researchers hypothesis that participants will self-administer less alcohol when using the experimental app with feedback.