Relational Agent for Alcohol Screening and Treatment
Unhealthy Alcohol UseAlcohol Use Disorder1 moreThis project will involve the development and initial evaluation of a promising computer-based intervention to improve the primary care management of risky alcohol use among Veterans. The intervention uses a Relational Agent, an on-screen "person" that establishes a relationship with the Veteran to promote positive health behaviors. This study will determine how Veterans interact with this system, how it can be tailored to Veterans' preferences, and its potential effect on risky drinking. If ultimately proven effective, the Relational Agent will have several impacts on Veterans and their health care, including: (1) lower rates of risky drinking in Veterans (2) improved rates of brief counseling for Veterans with excessive alcohol use (3) increased proportion of Veterans referred to Mental Health for alcohol disorders (4) improved care for Veterans with low levels of health literacy. This study directly supports Secretary Shinseki's Transformational Initiative to employ state-of-the-art information technology to improve quality and access of Veterans' health care.
Pharmacotherapy for HIV Infected Patients With Alcohol Problems
HIV InfectionHeavy Alcoholic Consumption1 moreThis is a randomized double blind clinical trial to test the effect of Naltrexone on HIV infected heavy drinkers. The study will select 40 HIV positive patients who meet criteria for heavy drinking. Treatments include Naltrexone (25-100mg)and placebo. Patients will be treated, followed up, and assessed for a duration of 12 weeks. The investigators associated hypotheses Hypothesis 1: Naltrexone will reduce the frequency of heavy drinking. Hypothesis 2: Naltrexone will lead to maintenance or improvement in CD4 lymphocyte count and decreased HIV RNA levels. Hypothesis 3: Naltrexone will lead to a reduction in sexual risk behaviors. Hypothesis 4: Naltrexone will lead to improved adherence to HAART. Hypothesis 5 (Exploratory): Naltrexone will be well-tolerated with minimal side effects and patients will exhibit good treatment retention.
Parent Feedback Intervention Targeting Student Transitions and Alcohol Related Trajectories (+)...
Alcohol DrinkingAlcohol Problem Drinking1 moreFITSTART (Feedback Intervention Targeting Student Transitions and Risk Trajectories) is a parent-based social norms intervention that has been shown to reduce risky drinking in incoming first year students.This program uses normative feedback to correct parents overestimation of other parents negative alcohol-related parenting practices (e.g., number of drinks parents would permit their college student to consume). Theory and research suggests that correcting those common misperceptions can motivate parents to adjust their own behaviors (e.g., reducing the number of drinks they would permit), which, in turn, can impact college student drinking. Despite FITSTARTs success, the design of the program limits participation to only students who have parents who can attend on-campus orientation sessions during the summer months before the start of the Fall semester. To address this limitation and extend the previous work, the proposed randomized clinical trial (RCT) will evaluate the efficacy of an online adaptation of the FITSTART(+) PBI program. To examine the efficacy of the newly developed FITSTART+ PBI web app, the proposed RCT will use a longitudinal design to examine if students self-report drinking and related negative consequences during their first semester in college significantly differed between FITSTART+ PBI (intervention app) and a control version of the app. Self-reported drinking and consequences are expected to be lower amongst students with parents randomized to FITSTART+ PBI relative to those with parents randomized to the control app.
Engaging General Practice in the Prevention of Patients With Alcohol Problems
Alcohol DrinkingThe aim of the study is to test whether or not a tailored multi-component intervention program to increase the activity of general practice teams in the prevention of hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption results in increase advice giving rate to patient with hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption and a better patient outcome in terms of hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption. The primary objectives of the proposed study are: to test the (cost) effectiveness of a tailored multi-component implementation program to engage general practices (i.e. GPs, nurse practitioners or practice nurses/assistants) in the prevention of hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption, changing both providers' advice giving behaviour and patients' alcohol consumption to identify predictors of effect to examine whether or not the implementation of a tailored multi-component implementation program to engage general practice in the prevention of hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption is feasible.
Effects of Alcohol History on Effects of Sevoflurane and Nitrous Oxide - 13
Alcohol-Related DisordersOpioid-Related Disorders1 moreThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of alcohol history on the subjective and reinforcing effects of sevoflurane and nitrous oxide in healthy volunteers. All subjects underwent psychomotor testing during 4 sessions of placebo, drug/placebo, and choice of intervention.
Laboratory Studies on Oxytocin for Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
AlcoholismAlcohol Related DisordersThis study will examine the utility of the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) as a potential new medication for the treatment of Alcohol use disorder (AUD). Non-treatment seeking men and women with AUD will be enrolled in a double blind placebo controlled phase I clinical trial. Participants will complete an 7-day inpatient protocol. During the first 3 days of the inpatient protocol, participants will complete alcohol abstinence in which withdrawal symptoms are measured,and urine will be collected to determine withdrawal symptom severity and urine levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Participants will then complete 3 laboratory procedures which measure 1) stress response, 2) motivation to drink alcohol and 3) subjective and physiological effects of alcohol. Finally, because participants are individuals with AUD, investigators will administer a brief intervention to address their risky alcohol drinking and problems before discharge.
Mephedrone and Alcohol Interactions in Humans
Amphetamine-Related DisordersAlcohol-Related DisordersThe purposes of this study are 1) to evaluate the pharmacological effects after oral coadministration of mephedrone and alcohol and 2) determine the pharmacokinetics changes of mephedrone and alcohol concentrations after oral coadministration of mephedrone and alcohol.
Interaction of Alcohol With Energy Drinks
Alcohol-Related DisordersDrinking and DrivingThe main objective of the project is to assess whether there is an interaction between the effects of ethanol and energy drinks on driving performance. Secondary objectives include: to evaluate subjective effects (drunkenness) after administration of alcohol and energy drinks, to assess pharmacokinetics of alcohol, caffeine and taurine after alcohol and energy drinks administration and to assess if there is an increased risk of bleeding when both drinks are taken together.
Pharmacogenetics of Alcohol: Treatment Implications
Alcohol Related DisordersAlcoholism1 moreThis study will explore the hypothesis that effects of alcohol are in part mediated by increased production of neuroactive steroids, which interact with GABAA-receptors. We propose to study non-dependent drinkers using a 4-session within-subjects design in which alcohol / placebo is paired with dutasteride / placebo pretreatment. Dutasteride is a 5-alpha steroid reductase (5AR) inhibitor that limits the production of dihydrotestosterone and the 5a-reduced neuroactive steroids allopregnanolone, pregnanolone and 3a,5a-androstanediol.
Implementing Screening and Brief Interventions for Excessive Drinkers in Primary Health Care
Alcohol-Related DisordersThe objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of an implementation program specifically designed to increase alcohol screening and brief intervention rates in primary health care.