Alcohol Effects on Impulsivity in Alcoholism

Overseen By Jessica Weafer, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase < 1

Sponsor: Jessica Weafer

Must not be taking: Psychotropic medications

Disqualifiers: Serious medical problems, Axis I disorders, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

250 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are currently taking psychotropic medications (drugs that affect your mood, thoughts, or behavior), you will need to stop, as the trial excludes those who are using them or have a prescription for them in the past 30 days.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Impulsivity Domains and Subjective Response for alcoholism?

Research shows that impulsivity and how people feel after drinking alcohol are linked to alcohol problems. Studies found that impulsive people often feel more stimulated after drinking, which can lead to more drinking. This suggests that addressing impulsivity and subjective responses to alcohol could help manage alcoholism. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the treatment for impulsivity in alcoholism safe for humans?

The studies reviewed focus on the effects of alcohol on impulsivity and do not provide specific safety data for a treatment. However, they suggest that alcohol can increase impulsivity and risky behaviors, especially in heavy drinkers and DUI offenders, which implies potential safety concerns related to alcohol consumption itself. ^{2 5 6 7 8}

How does this treatment for alcoholism differ from other treatments?

This treatment focuses on understanding how different doses of alcohol affect impulsivity, which is a key factor in alcoholism. Unlike other treatments that may focus on abstinence or reducing alcohol consumption, this approach examines the immediate effects of alcohol on behavior, potentially offering insights into managing impulsive actions related to drinking. ^{2 3 9 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Findings from this project will determine the relationship between two vulnerability factors for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in young adults: impulsivity and subjective response to alcohol. The results will identify badly needed, novel targets for prevention and treatment efforts to simultaneously reduce impulsivity and subjective responses in at-risk young adults.

Research Team

Jessica Weafer, PhD

Principal Investigator

Ohio State University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for young adults aged 21-25 who drink alcohol frequently, reaching a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of over .08% at least once in the past month. Participants must have been drinking at least twice weekly in the last month and be fluent in English.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 21 and 25 years old.

Report drinking at least twice weekly in the past 30 days based on responses on the TLFB

Report drinking to an estimated BAC > .08% at least once in the past 30 days based on responses on the Timeline Followback (TLFB)

Exclusion Criteria

Axis I psychiatric disorders including substance use disorder other than mild or moderate alcohol or mild cannabis use disorder

My weight is either below 110 pounds or above 210 pounds.

Positive urine screen for illegal drugs other than cannabis

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Lab Sessions

Participants complete two intravenous administration sessions in the lab receiving alcohol and placebo, followed by a third session with free-access to self-administer alcohol and placebo

3 sessions

3 visits (in-person)

Daily Assessment

Participants engage in seven 10-day daily assessment periods using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to report alcohol consumption and subjective response

70 days total over 2 years

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the main trial activities

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Impulsivity Domains and Subjective Response

Trial Overview The study is examining how impulsivity and personal reactions to alcohol may contribute to Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). It involves giving participants either actual alcohol or a placebo to compare their responses.

Participant Groups

Group I: Placebo, Then Alcohol, then Free-access session Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

participants will complete two intravenous administration sessions in the lab during which they will receive placebo (saline) then alcohol, followed by a third lab session in which they will have free-access to self-administer alcohol (up to 120mg% BrAC) and placebo intravenously for 60 min

Group II: Alcohol, Then Placebo, then Free-access session Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

participants will complete two intravenous administration sessions in the lab during which they will receive alcohol then placebo (saline), followed by a third lab session in which they will have free-access to self-administer alcohol (up to 120mg% BrAC) and placebo intravenously for 60 min

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Jessica Weafer

Lead Sponsor

Trials

5

Recruited

560+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials

865

Recruited

1,091,000+

Findings from Research

In a study involving 260 participants from the Chicago Social Drinking Project, impulsivity was found to be a significant predictor of heightened stimulant subjective response to alcohol, particularly among light drinkers.

While impulsive light drinkers experienced stimulant effects similar to heavy drinkers, impulsivity did not predict sedative responses to alcohol, suggesting that impulsivity primarily influences the stimulating effects of alcohol rather than its sedative effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relationships between generalized impulsivity and subjective stimulant and sedative responses following alcohol administration. Berey, BL., Leeman, RF., Chavarria, J., et al.[2022]

In a study with 90 healthy alcohol drinkers, acute alcohol administration increased impulsive behavior across three different tasks, but the effects varied depending on the type of task and the alcohol dose.

Specifically, higher doses (0.6 and 0.8 g/kg) significantly increased impulsivity in the continuous performance task, while impulsivity increased over time in the stop-signal and delay-discounting tasks regardless of the dose, indicating that impulsivity is influenced by both the task type and the timing of alcohol effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A test of alcohol dose effects on multiple behavioral measures of impulsivity. Dougherty, DM., Marsh-Richard, DM., Hatzis, ES., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 24 healthy social drinkers, alcohol was found to increase impulsive behavior specifically on the Experiential Discounting Task (EDT) and the Stop Task, with the highest dose (0.8 g/kg) leading to the most impulsive responses.

The EDT proved to be more sensitive to the effects of alcohol compared to traditional delay discounting measures, indicating that it may be a better tool for assessing how alcohol influences impulsive decision-making.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute-alcohol effects on the Experiential Discounting Task (EDT) and a question-based measure of delay discounting. Reynolds, B., Richards, JB., de Wit, H.[2013]

In a study of 105 healthy, non-alcohol dependent young adults, those with higher impulsivity reported stronger stimulant effects and weaker sedative effects from alcohol, especially at higher doses.

The findings suggest that impulsive individuals may be more likely to find alcohol reinforcing, which could increase their risk for developing alcohol-related problems.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relationships between impulsivity and subjective response in an IV ethanol paradigm. Leeman, RF., Ralevski, E., Limoncelli, D., et al.[2022]

DUI offenders exhibited heightened impulsivity and impaired inhibitory control when intoxicated with alcohol, leading to increased risky driving behavior, while control drivers did not show the same level of impulsivity under alcohol influence.

Interestingly, DUI offenders reported feeling less intoxicated than they actually were, which may contribute to their willingness to drive after drinking, highlighting a need for targeted interventions to improve risk awareness in this group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

DUI offenders display reduced perception of intoxication and heightened impulsive choice in response to alcohol. Fillmore, MT., Van Dyke, N.[2022]

In a study of 87 heavy drinkers, low-dose alcohol (aimed at a BAC of 0.03%) produced noticeable subjective effects of stimulation and sedation, but these effects were not significantly predicted by impulsivity measures.

While impulsivity showed a trend towards predicting increased sedation, this was likely influenced by boredom rather than a direct relationship, suggesting that subjective responses to alcohol can vary widely even among individuals with similar drinking habits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does Self-Reported or Behavioral Impulsivity Predict Subjective Response to Low-Dose Alcohol? Berey, BL., Leeman, RF., Pittman, B., et al.[2020]

In a study of 50 social drinkers, higher impulsivity was linked to greater feelings of sedation after consuming alcohol, suggesting that impulsive individuals may experience more sedative effects rather than stimulating effects from alcohol.

The findings indicate that impulsive drinkers might not feel the stimulating effects of alcohol as strongly, potentially leading them to consume more in search of those stimulating effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Response inhibition impairments predict alcohol-induced sedation. Shannon, EE., Staniforth, ER., McNamara, J., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 46 women (23 heavy drinkers and 23 light drinkers), alcohol consumption significantly increased impulsivity, particularly in heavy drinkers, suggesting they are more prone to risky behaviors after drinking.

Heavy drinkers reported more positive effects from alcohol and were less sensitive to its negative effects, indicating a higher risk for developing alcohol use disorders and engaging in dangerous behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Alcohol increases impulsivity and abuse liability in heavy drinking women. Reed, SC., Levin, FR., Evans, SM.[2021]

Active alcoholics show significantly faster discounting of delayed rewards compared to currently abstinent alcoholics and control participants, indicating a strong link between impulsivity and alcohol dependence.

Alcohol rewards are discounted more rapidly than monetary rewards, suggesting that the nature of the reward influences impulsivity, which could inform treatment strategies for addiction.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Delay discounting of money and alcohol in actively using alcoholics, currently abstinent alcoholics, and controls. Petry, NM.[2019]

Chronic intermittent alcohol exposure in rats leads to impaired impulse control, particularly noticeable after the third cycle of alcohol consumption, with deficits persisting for at least 34 days during abstinence.

Renewed alcohol consumption temporarily improves impulse control, but deficits return during subsequent abstinence, highlighting the complex relationship between alcohol use and impulsivity over time.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increased impulsivity in rats as a result of repeated cycles of alcohol intoxication and abstinence. Irimia, C., Wiskerke, J., Natividad, LA., et al.[2021]

Alcohol intoxication significantly impairs response inhibition and preparation, as evidenced by increased reaction times and decreased accuracy in a color version of the Eriksen flanker task performed by healthy social drinkers under fMRI.

The study reveals that alcohol primarily affects response-level processing rather than attentional or stimulus-related processing, suggesting that its effects on behavior may be linked to difficulties in self-control and decision-making.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Alcohol Intoxication on Response Conflict in a Flanker Task. Marinkovic, K., Rickenbacher, E., Azma, S.[2022]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relationships between generalized impulsivity and subjective stimulant and sedative responses following alcohol administration. [2022]

2. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A test of alcohol dose effects on multiple behavioral measures of impulsivity. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute-alcohol effects on the Experiential Discounting Task (EDT) and a question-based measure of delay discounting. [2013]

4. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relationships between impulsivity and subjective response in an IV ethanol paradigm. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

DUI offenders display reduced perception of intoxication and heightened impulsive choice in response to alcohol. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does Self-Reported or Behavioral Impulsivity Predict Subjective Response to Low-Dose Alcohol? [2020]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Response inhibition impairments predict alcohol-induced sedation. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Alcohol increases impulsivity and abuse liability in heavy drinking women. [2021]

9. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Delay discounting of money and alcohol in actively using alcoholics, currently abstinent alcoholics, and controls. [2019]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increased impulsivity in rats as a result of repeated cycles of alcohol intoxication and abstinence. [2021]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Alcohol Intoxication on Response Conflict in a Flanker Task. [2022]