Drinking, Acetate, and Stress

Launched by YALE UNIVERSITY · Aug 30, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, titled "Drinking, Acetate, and Stress," aims to understand how drinking alcohol affects stress levels and how this is connected to a hormone called cortisol, which is involved in our body's stress response. Researchers believe that by learning more about these relationships, they can find better ways to help people who are struggling with alcohol use, particularly those who drink heavily or are in recovery.

To be eligible for the study, participants should be adults aged 18 to 55 who are currently experiencing issues with alcohol use, as defined by specific criteria. They must be willing to take part in all study activities and may need to agree to a free inpatient treatment program for their alcohol use if they are currently drinking. Participants will complete various assessments and may undergo imaging tests like MRIs. It's important to note that individuals with certain medical conditions or those who are pregnant or nursing cannot participate. Overall, this study seeks to uncover valuable information that could lead to improved support for those facing alcohol-related challenges.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
• • Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
• • Medically stable male or female, aged 18-55.
• • Able to read, write and complete a multitude of self-assessments in English
• • Meets DSM-5 criteria for current Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
• • Participants who have Alcohol Use Disorder and are actively drinking must be willing to receive (at no cost) inpatient treatment for AUD for a period of up to 30 days. Participants who have been treated for an Alcohol Use Disorder and are now sober three months or longer will NOT be required to go inpatient.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Subjects with any significant current medical conditions (neurological, cardiovascular, endocrine, thyroid, renal, liver), seizures, delirium or hallucinations, or other unstable medical conditions, including HIV.
• • Current DSM-5 substance use disorder (other than AUD or tobacco use disorder)
• • Any metallic objects implanted in their body which would make imaging unsafe (pacemaker, etc)
• • Claustrophobia, or other inability to participate in an MRI
• • A positive test result at intake appointment and subsequent appointments on urine drug screens conducted for illicit drugs. (Note: participants will not be paid for study visits if they test positive for an illicit drug and will be immediately excluded from study).
• • Women who are pregnant or nursing. Women who have an IUD that would make imaging unsafe.
• • Recent taking of medications that may influence study outcomes (e.g., disulfiram, naltrexone, acamprosate, anticonvulsants).
• • Subjects likely to exhibit clinically significant alcohol withdrawal during the study.