Neurobehavioral Profiles of Adaptive Stress Responses in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder

Launched by CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, MANNHEIM · Oct 25, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) respond to stress and how these responses might affect their cravings for alcohol and their drinking behavior. The research aims to understand the brain and behavior patterns that help some people cope better with stress, which could make them less likely to relapse into drinking. Participants will go through a series of tests, including a stress-inducing activity and being exposed to their favorite alcoholic drink in a controlled setting, while researchers monitor their brain activity and emotional responses using a type of brain scan called fMRI.

To be eligible for this study, participants should be between 16 and 65 years old and meet certain criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder, but they do not need to be currently receiving treatment. They should also be fluent in German and able to understand the study procedures. Participants will use a study smartphone to help track their experiences with stress, cravings, and social interactions in real time. This research is important because it could help develop better ways to support individuals with AUD in managing their stress and reducing their alcohol cravings.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion criteria are:
• • age between 16 and 65 years
• • meeting at least 2 criteria of an alcohol use disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) (DSM-5), yet without the need for a therapeutic intervention
• • fluency in German
• • able to understand the study procedures and give informed consent
• • willingness to use a study smartphone
• Exclusion criteria are:
• • current use of drugs or medications that interact with the central nervous system or the glucocorticoid system
• • contraindications for magnetic resonance imaging
• • medical history of bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, schizophrenia or schizophrenic spectrum disorder, or substance use disorder other than alcohol, nicotine, or cannabis
• • medical history of severe head injury or other severe central nervous system disorders or other severe somatic disorders (e.g. liver cirrhosis)
• • pregnancy