A Pilot Study of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation to Boost the Efficacy of Psychotherapy in a Community Sample of People Who Drink Alcohol
Recruiting now · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Alcohol Use Disorder
In brief
The goal of this small (n=75) proof-of-concept randomized clinical trial is to test the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) during motivational interviewing (MI) sessions with participants who drink at above the low-risk level. Participants will be randomized to receive either MI with active stimulation, MI with sham stimulation, or a delayed treatment group that receives MI with no stimulation. Measures will include brain imaging, alcohol use, cannabis use, risk-taking behavior, emotions, and others. Participants who are randomized to the delayed-treatment group will not receive brain imaging.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT04770025
- Run by
- The Mind Research Network
- People needed
- 75
- Starts
- 2020-09-01
- Expected to finish
- 2026-02-28
- Last updated by the study team
- 2025-05-08
Who can join
Age: 21 and older, up to 60. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Self-identify as having problem drinking
- Right-handed
- Age 21-60 years
- AUDIT score indicating risky drinking
You may not qualify if…
- Left-handed or ambidextrous
- Currently engaged in treatment for alcohol use disorder
- Receiving treatment for alcohol use disorder within the prior 12 months
- History of brain injury or neurological diagnosis
- Evidence of current psychosis
- Past-year substance use disorder other than alcohol, marijuana, or nicotine
- Current or history of severe alcohol withdrawal
- MRI/tACS contraindications including pregnancy
- Impaired hearing (psychotherapy using American Sign Language is not possible within the scope of the proposed study)
- Insufficient corrected visual acuity to complete the assessment instruments
- Unable to read/speak English fluently
- Unable to provide valid informed consent
Where it is running
- The Mind Research Network — Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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