Craving Regulation Training for Alcohol Use Disorder

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Yale University

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of the proposed study is to examine whether a single session of training in regulation of craving (ROC-T) affects alcohol drinking. The study will consist of (1) a basic screening (phone and/or online) and an in-person visit, to determine eligibility and conduct pre-intervention baseline assessments; (2) a training (ROC-T) visit, (3) a post-intervention assessment visit, and (4) 1-2 phone/online follow-up assessments. The study will take up to 10 hours of the participants' time.

Research Team

Uri Berger, PhD

Principal Investigator

Yale University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for young adults aged 18-25 who are heavy or binge drinkers and want to reduce their alcohol consumption. They must be able to perform tasks on a computer, have good vision (with or without correction), and speak English fluently. People with other mental disorders, cognitive impairments, or no interest in cutting down drinking aren't eligible.

Inclusion Criteria

Capability of performing the experimental tasks (e.g., can read, able to use computers)

Native or fluent speaker of English

Provides informed consent

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Exclusion Criteria

Minor cognitive impairment evidenced by an inability to correctly understand study information

Reports entirely no interest in reducing the amount of drinking (Alcohol Contemplation Ladder score of 9 or 10)

Present DSM disorders, apart from alcohol use disorders

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Treatment Details

Interventions

Control (NO REGULATION) (Behavioral Intervention)
Regulation of craving (Behavioral Intervention)

Trial OverviewThe study tests if a single session of Regulation of Craving Training (ROC-T) can affect alcohol drinking habits. Participants will go through screening, the ROC-T session, post-intervention assessment, and follow-ups via phone/online totaling up to 10 hours.

Participant Groups

2Treatment groups

Active Control

Placebo Group

Group I: CRAVING REGULATIONActive Control1 Intervention

In the CRAVING REGULATION condition, participants will first read a brief essay about the adverse consequences of drinking alcohol. Then, participants may complete a comprehension check consisting of questions to ensure that they understood and encoded the content of the essays. Participants will be trained to use the information to inform the strategy they will use in the regulation of craving training (ROC-T). A single trial in the regulation of craving training will have two possible instructions: (a) STRATEGY: implement the strategy ("bring to mind the negative facts from the essay") and (b) LOOK: to merely observe the image and allow natural responses to come. Participants will follow the instructions; followed by an alcohol-related picture, a brief delay, and will then rate their craving. Participants will then be instructed to use this strategy in daily life situations when they might drink.

Group II: CONTROL (NO REGULATION)Placebo Group1 Intervention

In the CONTROL condition, participants will first read a brief essay about a non-alcohol-related topic (e.g., color perception). Then, participants will complete a comprehension check consisting of questions to ensure that they understood and encoded the content of the essays. Participants will view images of objects that are unrelated to alcohol. Furthermore, participants in the control condition will not practice any strategy in the regulation of craving task (ROC-T). That is, in the CONTROL condition, participants would merely observe the image and allow natural responses to come (i.e., LOOK instruction) and rate how colorful is each item (this controls for task time and experiment setting).