
Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Specialized Brief Intervention for Hazardous Drinkers in an Emergency...
Alcohol DrinkingAlcohol use and its consequences represent an important public health problem. As well as alcohol dependence, hazardous drinking also contributes to a high burden in terms of morbidity and mortality. To improve these patients' prognosis and decrease associated social and health care costs, it is necessary to increase early detection, intervention and treatment for these problems. For these reasons, SBIRT programmes (Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment) have been developed, evaluated and shown to be effective, particularly in primary care and general practice. Nevertheless, effectiveness of SBIRT in emergency departments (ED) has not been clearly established. The investigators aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of an SBIRT programme in the ED of a tertiary hospital.

Efficacy of Gabapentin in Alcohol Dependency Treatment
Alcohol DrinkingHeavy DrinkingThe study aims to study the effect of gabapentin on the number of alcohol drinking days and heavy drinking days in the Thai clinical alcohol-dependent population by using the double-blinded randomized controlled approach. One-hundred and twelve individuals with alcohol dependence were randomly assigned equally into two groups including treatment with gabapentin and placebo. Thirty-four patients (30.3%) completed the study protocol, i.e. treatment with gabapentin at least 300 mg per day or placebo orally once a day for twelve weeks. Pattern of alcohol drinking were obtained from the timelime followback. Drinking behaviors were compared between the two groups by poisson repeated measures model.

Cognitive Remediation for Alcohol Use Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Alcohol Use DisorderPTSD1 moreThe project will examine whether a computerized neuroscience-based cognitive training program can improve cognitive functioning and recovery outcomes among Veterans with Alcohol Use Disorder and co-occurring PTSD. Information from this study will help determine the malleability of cognitive dysfunction, an established risk factor for poor recovery outcomes in this population. Improved functional outcomes can decrease risk of chronic impairment and ultimately help affected individuals live richer, more productive lives. Web-based treatment technologies may increase the reach and impact of treatment, and foster patient recovery in cases where staffing, space, acceptability of counseling, and transportation are barriers. Findings may also support expanding use of existing, highly-accessible cognitive remediation technologies to other vulnerable clinical populations.

Examining Alcohol Consumption, Perceptions, and User Experience of Alcohol Moderation Strategies...
Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Use Disorder2 moreThe primary aims of the study are to assess the user experience and initial efficacy of a mobile application designed to reduce problematic alcohol use. The application utilizes drinking limits, defined by the user, to pace alcohol consumption during drinking occasions. The mobile application will be compared to strategies for tracking drinking detailed within the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Alcohol Moderation Strategies (https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/thinking-about-a-change/strategies-for-cutting-down/tips-to-try.aspx). Primary outcome variables, in addition to variables assessing user design experience of the application and use of moderation strategies, include (1) negative consequences of alcohol use during a 14 day observation period, and (2) number of drinks consumed per drinking day during a 14 day observation period.

Feasibility Evaluation of a Self-guided Digital Tool for Problematic Alcohol Use
Alcohol ConsumptionThe purpose of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of a new monitored self-guided digital intervention based on an alcohol diary and techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and relapse prevention. The participants will be adults with problematic alcohol use. An uncontrolled trial will explore participant's usability and treatment credibility ratings, behavioural engagement and preliminary effects on alcohol use.

The Anchor Study: Digitally Delivered Intervention for Reducing Problematic Substance Use
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)Substance Use DisordersThis study aims to validate W-SUDs as a digitally-delivered substance use disorder program through a fully-powered randomized control trial that will test the comparative efficacy of the mobile-app based substance use disorder program (W-SUDs) to reduce substance use relative to a psychoeducation control condition, which has no cognitive behavioral therapy and the content is not delivered through a conversational user interface.

Pilot Evaluation of the Empower Neuromodulation System in AUD Patients
Alcohol Use DisorderThis study evaluates the effects of peripheral nerve stimulation on alcohol craving and consumption in participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD). This is a pilot investigation in which all participants will receive the active treatment.

Resolving Psychological Stress
Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderAlcohol Use DisorderThe investigators have developed a mobile app called Resolving Psychological Stress (REPS) to help alleviate symptoms of PTSD. The app will administer threat-related attention bias modification to individuals who have both a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V (DSM-V) diagnosis of PTSD (and meet at least one DSM-V criteria for threat sensitivity) and a DSM-V diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder. The aims of the study are to explore both the feasibility and acceptability of the app with it's users, and to explore the efficacy of the app at alleviating PTSD severity.

An Online Intervention Addressing Mental Health and Substance Use in University Students
AnxietyDepression2 moreThe purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of mobile app containing a range of evidence based tools to improve the mental health and substance use outcomes of university students.

Craving Assessment in Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder Using Virtual Reality Exposure
Alcohol Use DisorderAlcohol use disorder (AUD) is a burdensome clinical disorder with high relapse rates. Virtual Reality (VR)-based therapeutic and diagnostic approaches have received increasing attention in the treatment of AUD but evidence on the induction of craving via VR scenarios is still needed. Craving for alcohol is associated with psychological and physiological responses. This single-arm clinical study will be conducted including n=60 patients with AUD. Using a head-mounted display (HMD), patients will be confronted with three different VR scenarios (neutral vs. two target situations) while heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), pupillometry and electrodermal activity (EDA) will be measured continuously. Subjective craving levels will be assessed pre-/during/post-exposure to each VR scenario.