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Behavioral Intervention

Real-Time Neurofeedback for Alcoholism (RP2B Trial)

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Stephen M LaConte, PhD

Research Sponsored by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

be 21 years of age or older

Be older than 18 years old

Must not have

having a current diagnosis of any psychotic disorder

having a history of seizure disorders or traumatic brain injury

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up during the real time fmri scan, approximately 1 hour

Summary

This trial helps people use brain feedback to control drinking and value of alcohol, so they can make better choices.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for adults over 21 who drink heavily (AUDIT>15) and want to reduce their drinking but aren't planning to get treatment during the study. It's not for those with MRI contraindications, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with psychotic disorders, severe drug use issues besides alcohol or nicotine, seizures, or brain injuries.

What is being tested?

The study tests if real-time fMRI neurofeedback can help participants control their impulse to choose immediate rewards over larger future ones ('delay discounting'), potentially affecting how they value alcohol and their consumption behavior.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this trial involves non-invasive fMRI neurofeedback rather than medication, typical drug side effects are not expected. However, some may experience discomfort from lying still in the MRI machine or anxiety related to the procedure.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

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I am 21 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

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I have been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder.

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I have a history of seizures or traumatic brain injury.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ immediately following the real time fmri scan

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~immediately following the real time fmri scan

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and immediately following the real time fmri scan for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Alcohol Demand

Delay Discounting

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Placebo Group

Group I: Real Time NeurofeedbackExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Real time neurofeedback will be based on a classifier of increasing or decreasing delay discounting fMRI patterns. Participants will try to modulate their discounting rate based on neurofeedback via a visual dial, during an fMRI scan. Participants will be told they will be controlling the visual dial.

Group II: "Idealized"/Sham NeurofeedbackPlacebo Group1 Intervention

Rather than using the output of a classifier, the visual dial will display perfect "modulation" of increasing and decreasing delay discounting and participants will told that they will not be controlling the visual dial.

0 / 3Eligibility criteria met