Buproprion for Binge Drinking
Alcohol AbuseThe present proposal is an innovative and translational clinical trial derived from exciting preclinical findings to test the hypothesis that treatment with the melanocortin activator bupropion can reduce binge drinking in humans. Furthermore, pilot data on moderating effects of coexisting nicotine use on the efficacy of bupropion for binge drinking population will be obtained. Evidence for an efficacy signal with good tolerability with this FDA approved medication would form the foundation to conduct a well-powered Phase II b trial. The development of an effective pharmacotherapy for binge drinking would be a significant clinical advance. .
Altering Memories That Increase Risk of Relapse in Alcohol Use Disorders
Alcohol Use DisorderAlcohol DependenceThe purpose of this study is to examine the effects of rapamycin (sirolimus) versus a placebo, an inactive substance, on responses to alcohol cues in individuals with alcohol use disorder. Rapamycin (sirolimus) is a FDA-approved antibiotic and immunosuppressive drug that is currently used to (a) prevent organ transplant recipients from rejecting their transplants (b) treat cardiovascular diseases, and (c) treat some forms of cancer. Rapamycin (sirolimus) is not FDA-approved to treat alcohol use disorder. The use of rapamycin (sirolimus) in this study is investigational, meaning that the study medication is not a proven treatment for alcohol use disorder. The study will examine the medication's use as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder, as well as how safe and tolerable it is to take.
Testing the Efficacy of an Online Integrated Treatment for Comorbid Alcohol Misuse and Emotional...
Alcohol Use DisorderConsidering the high comorbidity between alcohol use disorders and emotional problems, there is currently a need for accessible, integrated treatments designed to target both disorders simultaneously. Evidence suggests that the combined use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) may be effective at reducing the combined symptoms of the two disorders. However, much of the empirical work has focused on testing the usefulness of CBT/MI for alcohol misuse and comorbid depression, and the majority of these studies involve in-person treatment. Therefore, additional empirical research is required to determine the efficacy of combined CBT and MI for alcohol use and both anxiety and depression using an online intervention. This may help inform future treatments in this domain, and potentially be able to inform the development of online, accessible interventions for this population. Participants (N = 214) with elevated levels of alcohol use and emotional problems will be recruited from Central and Eastern Canada. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the treatment group (i.e., combined CBT and MI), or the psycho-educational control group. Individuals in the treatment group will be given 8-weeks to work through 12 online modules. Throughout the modules, participants will identify goals related to alcohol use and mood, learn strategies to cope with alcohol cravings, triggers, and social pressures, and learn how to prevent relapse. Modules will also include content designed to target anxiety and depression, focusing on strategies designed to help reduce negative thinking and worry, increase behavioural activation, and increase self-care (e.g., relaxation techniques, sleep hygiene). Participants randomly assigned to the control (i.e., psycho-education) condition will receive links to websites that provide general psychoeducation about alcohol and mental illness. All participants will complete online assessment measures at baseline, at the end of treatment, and at follow-up approximately 4 months later) in order to assess the efficacy of the treatment. At the end of the study, individuals in the control group will be given full access to the treatment.
Trial of the Rapid Antisuicidal Effects of Intranasal Ketamine in Comorbid Depression and Alcohol...
Suicidal IdeationDepression1 moreThis project aims to evaluate the potential rapid and sustained antisuicidal and antidepressant effects of a single intranasal dose of ketamine in inpatients during a mood episode in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Bipolar Disorder (BD) with or without comorbid recent abuse of alcohol.
Understanding and Intervening With Heavy Drinking Among Patients With HIV and HCV
Alcohol Use DisorderHIV/AIDS2 moreAmong patients with HIV, especially those also infected with HCV, heavy drinking is associated with significant risks to health. However, little is known about how to best intervene with co-infected heavy drinkers, a particularly high risk group for whom targeted intervention has not been developed. Therefore, this study proposes to test a newly developed drinking-reduction intervention for patients with both HIV and HCV, which combines components of successful interventions developed for HIV and for liver disease patients. 60 HIV/HCV co-infected drinkers from HIV primary care will be recruited in order to ensure an adequate final sample size of 45 participants completing the study. A clinic recruiter will identify and refer potential participants based on their medical record, who will then be screened for eligibility by the research coordinator. Potential participants from outside of this clinic will also be recruited through self-referrals via flyers and through RecruitMe, an online based recruitment tool. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention or control condition, while ensuring that equal numbers of individuals with alcohol use disorder are assigned to each condition. The intervention condition will receive brief in-person sessions with a counselor and will be asked to use a smartphone app daily to keep track of drinking and other health behaviors for two months. The intervention sessions will include information about HIV, HCV and alcohol, and the counselor will give the participant information about their liver function and alcohol use to try to motivate them to drink less. The control condition will simply be asked to drink less and will be given pamphlets with general information on HIV, Hepatitis C, and drinking from educational websites on HIV/HCV co-infection. The intervention condition will then be evaluated to see if it was more effective at reducing drinking than the control condition.
CBT-I on Alcohol Treatment Outcomes Among Veterans
InsomniaAlcohol Use DisorderProject SAVE aims to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of a CBT-I supplement to alcohol treatment of Veterans.
Cerebellar Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for the Treatment of Alcohol Use...
Alcohol Use DisorderThe objective of the current study is to investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on self-reported negative affect, cerebellar brain activation and alcohol use outcomes in alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Collaborative and Stepped Care in Mental Health (COMET)
Depressive DisorderAnxiety Disorder2 moreThe aims of COMET are the implementation and evaluation of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness as well as processes of a collaborative and stepped care model for depressive, anxiety, somatoform and/or alcohol abuse disorders within a multiprofessional network in comparison to routine care. In a cluster-randomized controlled effectiveness trial 570 patients will be recruited by 38 general practitioner practices and followed with a prospective survey at four time points. The primary outcome is the change in health-related quality of life from baseline to 6-months follow-up. Secondary outcomes include disorder-specific symptom burden, response, remission, functional quality of life, cost-effectiveness, evaluation of processes and other clinical and psychosocial variables.
New Therapeutic Strategies for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders
AlcoholismThis is an experimental study in which the efficacy of three psychophysiological intervention modalities based on retrieval-extinction procedures is analyzed.
Testing Doxazosin to Treat Stress Mechanisms in Alcoholism
AlcoholismDouble-blind, placebo controlled, randomized controlled trial (RCT) for Alcohol Use Disorder examining the effects of doxazosin, a norepinephrine alpha1 receptor antagonist, on stress reactivity and clinical outcomes.