Role of Pavlovian Mechanisms for Control Over Substance Use

Launched by TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT DRESDEN · Nov 19, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how certain learned behaviors might affect substance use, specifically focusing on individuals with alcohol and other substance use disorders. Researchers developed a new test to see how these behaviors differ between people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and those without. They have found that people with AUD may respond differently to these learned behaviors, and now they want to explore this further in individuals with a range of substance use disorders, including cannabis, methamphetamine, and cocaine.

To participate in this study, you must be between 18 and 65 years old and currently using alcohol or other substances without a desire to stop. You should also meet specific criteria for substance use disorders as defined by mental health guidelines. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and undergo brain scans (fMRI) to help researchers understand how these behaviors work in the brain. It's important to note that certain medical conditions and medications may exclude you from participating, so please check with the study team if you have questions about your eligibility. Overall, this research aims to help improve treatment options for individuals struggling with substance use.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Men and women between 18-65 years of age,
• • AUD, and/or SUD subjects only: meet 4 or more criteria for DSM-5 alcohol-related and/or substance-related (cannabis, amphetamine, methamphetamine or cocaine disorder (not requiring withdrawal as assessed by an independent psychiatrist),
• • Currently using alcohol without a desire for abstinence
• • Ability to consent to the study and complete the questionnaires.
• • Sufficient language(German) and motor skills for using PC
• • existing health insurance
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Lifetime diagnosis of DSM-5 bipolar disorder or schizophrenia or schizophrenia spectrum disorder (if induced by drugs, it should happen more than a month ago)
• • Current threshold DSM-5 diagnosis of major depressive disorder, or presence of suicidal intention
• • High risk (≤ 26) ASSIST scores in other substances other than alcohol, amphetamine, methamphetamine, cannabis, cocaine, tobacco
• • History of traumatic brain injury or severe neurological disease (such as Dementia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Epilepsy, Meningitis, Stroke)
• • Pregnancy or breastfeeding,
• • Ingestion of medications known to interact with the dopamine system in the 10-day period prior to study participation or less than 4 half-lives after last ingestion (rapid urine test); A detailed list of permitted medication can be added upon request
• • MR contraindications (e.g., pacemakers, metallic or electronic implants, metallic splinters, surgical staples)
• • Color vision deficiency
• • sensorineural hearing loss of 30 dB or greater,
• • Tinnitus and
• • Acute alcohol, substance (cannabis, or methamphetamine, amphetamine, cocaine) intoxication at assessement day verified by breath alcohol tests and drug intoxication verified by rapid urine test.