Using Neurofeedback to Understand the Relationship Between Stress and Alcohol Consumption

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Alcohol Abuse, Craving, Psychosocial Stressor, Neural Stress Response

In brief

In this research project, the aim is to discover the role specific brain networks play in the relationship between stress reactions and the desire for alcohol and alcohol consumption. To investigate this question, various brain imaging methods as well as cognitive tasks are combined. Various questionnaires are sampled and brain scans are conducted. Individuals interested in participating in the study have to fulfill certain criteria... * no serious medical or mental health diagnosis * problematic alcohol drinking habits * interested in improving drinking habits ...and undergo various non-invasive procedures * filling out several questionnaires concerning personality and habits * undergoing a mental performance task while being in a brain scanner (MRI) * attempting to regulate their own brain activity while lying in the MRI scanner * filling out an electronic diary for 6 weeks - concerning daily mood, stress, and alcohol habits Participants will be randomly allocated to either one of 2 experimental groups. Both groups undergo the same tasks, receive the same instructions and only differ regarding some aspects of the brain self-regulation task .

Key facts

Study ID: NCT06247306
Run by: Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim
People needed: 102
Starts: 2024-03-01
Expected to finish: 2027-07-01
Last updated by the study team: 2025-01-23

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Age 18-65 years
Presence of 2 to a maximum of 5 criteria for alcohol use disorder according to DSM-5
no clinical necessity for detoxification treatment
participants may have a moderate cannabis use disorder and tobacco use disorder
Capacity for consent and ability to use self-assessment scales
Sufficient knowledge of German
Willingness to use a mobile phone with Android operating system

You may not qualify if…

Lifetime diagnosis of bipolar or psychotic disorder or a substance use disorder according to Diagnostical and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 5 (DSM-5) that is not alcohol, cannabis, or tobacco use disorder
Current substance use other than cannabis and tobacco
Current diagnosis of one of the following conditions according to DSM-5: (hypo)manic episode, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder
History of severe head trauma or other severe central neurological disorders (dementia, Parkinson\&amp;amp;#39;s disease, multiple sclerosis)
Pregnancy or lactation
Use of medications known to interact with the central nervous system within the last 10 days; testing at least four half-lives after the last dose
Exercising the prerogative of the \&amp;amp;#34;Right not to know\&amp;amp;#34; in the context of incidental findings during an examination or investigation

Where it is running

Central Institute of Mental Health - Department of Clinical Psychology — Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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