Optimisation of Functional MRI-based Neurofeedback for Alcohol Use Disorders
Alcohol AbuseParticipants will undergo a single session of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-based neurofeedback (approximately 1 hour). The investigators will assess their ability to regulate motivational networks of the brain during the exposure to alcohol cues and evaluate immediate effects on craving and cognitive bias for alcohol by administering a questionnaire and a Stroop task before and after the session.
Zonisamide Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder: an Evaluation of Efficacy and Mechanism of Action...
Alcohol Use DisorderThis is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 16 week trial of the medication zonisamide for the treatment of heavy drinking alcoholic civilians.
Pregabalin as Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol Use DisorderThe proposed protocol is an 8 week open label outpatient pilot trial of the safety and efficacy of pregabalin (Lyrica) in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. The primary objective of the study is to determine the efficacy of pregabalin in promoting alcohol abstinence among individuals with an alcohol use disorder.
Effects of Cannabidiol in Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol Use DisorderThe goal of the proposed project is to begin rigorous study of the clinically relevant effects of non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) in patients with severe alcohol use disorder (AUD). This double-blind, randomized proof-of-concept study (n = 40) is designed to assess feasibility and contrast effects of extended (8 weeks) treatment with CBD to those of placebo in AUD patients. Participants with AUD will be randomized to receive either placebo or 600mg CBD/day (PO) for 4 weeks, immediately followed by 1200mg CBD/day (PO) for an additional 4 weeks (8 total weeks). These doses were chosen to reproduce serum CBD levels reported to reduce alcohol-seeking behavior in animal studies. Measures will include circulating levels of CBD, safety measures (THC serum levels, adverse events, cognitive and motoric function), and physiological and psychological domains relevant to AUD (including self-reported craving, depression, and anxiety, and responses to personalized scripts designed to elicit stress- and cue-induced craving and anxiety). Assessments will be conducted following 1 day, 1 week, and 4 weeks of treatment with each dose of CBD vs. placebo, and 1 and 4 weeks after the cessation of treatment. Drinking outcomes across 8 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks of follow-up will also be assessed as an exploratory outcome.
Multimedia Toolkits to Implement 12-Step Recovery Concepts in Group Counseling
Alcohol AbuseDrug AbuseThis study is developing and testing a 12-step toolkit with five modules, training counselors to use them, and studying their frequency of use, desirability, effectiveness and patient outcomes. The toolkit includes counselor written guides, posters, client worksheets, engagement activities, and videos designed to be shown during substance abuse treatment group sessions to explain and encourage 12-step participation.
Baclofen for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence
Alcohol DependenceThere is first evidence from preclinical and clinical studies for the efficacy of the selective GABA-B receptor agonist baclofen in the treatment of alcohol dependence. The aim of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of individually titrated high-dose baclofen for relapse prevention in alcohol-dependent patients.
Baclofen for the Treatment of Alcohol Drinkers
AlcoholismThe main objective of this study is to show the effectiveness to a year of baclofen compared to placebo, on the proportion of patients with a low risk alcohol consumption or no, according to the WHO standards.
Exposure Therapy as Aftercare for Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol Use DisordersBackground: It is well documented that individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) respond well during evidence-based psychological treatment, but also that a large proportion relapse when discharged from treatment and confronted with alcohol in real life. Cue Exposure Therapy (CET) focuses on confronting alcohol cues in order to reduce cravings as well as the likelihood of relapse. The aim of this study is to investigate whether CET as aftercare increases the efficiency of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) among AUD individuals. Design and methods: The study is implemented as an investigator-blinded randomized controlled trial. A total of 300 consecutively enrolled AUD patients, recruited from an alcohol outpatient clinic will be randomized to one of the three following aftercare treatment groups: (A) CET as a smartphone application (n = 100); (B) CET as group therapy (n = 100), and (C) Aftercare as Usual (n = 100). It is hypothesized that the two experimental groups ((A) and (B)) will achieve better treatment outcomes as compared to the control group ((C)), and It will be explored whether CET as smartphone application is as effective as CET as group therapy. The groups will be compared in a number of parameters including alcohol intake, cravings and copings-strategies. Discussion: If the hypothesis, that CET increases the efficiency of CBT is verified, it will make sense to supplement CBT with CET as aftercare, hence, reintegrating CET within a CBT approach. Although, CET is most often regarded as one of the behavioral methods in CBT, there appears to be segregation in the empirical literature when it comes to treatment of addictive disorders. However, CET may allow the patient to practice and gain control over alcohol cue reactivity and associated high-risk situations in an inter-mediating therapeutic context before the patients inevitably are confronted by them. In this way, one might expect the transition from treatment to daily life less overwhelming and CET may help prevent relapse in the long term. Thus, CET may be particularly suitable as aftercare.
Development of Ivermectin for Alcohol Use Disorders
Alcohol Use DisorderCurrent pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) have limited efficacy. Thus, the development of effective treatments for AUDs represents an important public health objective. Repositioning, i.e. using existing approved drugs for other indications, represents a fast and economically feasible approach for drug development. Ivermectin (IVM) is an FDA-approved antiparasitic medication that can significantly reduce alcohol intake in mice, suggesting that it may be useful in the treatment of AUDs in humans. The goal of this project is to provide key clinical evidence that IVM can be repositioned as a novel therapeutic agent to treat AUDs.
Prazosin Augmentation of Outpatient Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders in Active Duty Soldiers With...
Alcohol Use DisordersStress Disorders2 moreThe purpose of the study is to evaluate if the drug prazosin: will decrease alcohol use in active duty members of the military who served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan and determine if presence or absence of posttraumatic stress disorder affects treatment.