Cognitive Behavioral Therapy + Mindfulness for Alcoholism
(ABQTREAT Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a significant public health problem, with prevalence rates of 13.9% for current and 29.1% for lifetime diagnosis (Grant et al., 2015). AUD creates harm at the individual, familial, and societal level, with an estimated societal cost of $249 billion (Sacks et al., 2015) per year. The course of AUD typically is characterized by periods of relapse to problematic drinking (Maisto et al., 2014), signaling a need for better treatments and understanding of mechanisms of behavior change.The goal of this research is to conduct a randomized clinical trial with 140 participants who have an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Each participant will complete behavioral assessments, self-report surveys and brain imaging before and after receiving psychotherapy treatment to change their drinking behaviors. Various aspects of behavior change will be looked at to better understand changes in brain function and emotional reactivity when someone changes their patterns of alcohol use. The two treatment used in this study have been found to be helpful in reducing alcohol use. Participants will be randomly assigned to either Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) or Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) that will be completed in 12 weekly therapy sessions.It is anticipated that there will be numerous changes in brain function that are found when someone reduces or stops their alcohol use after the completion of 12 weeks of treatment.
Who Is on the Research Team?
Barbara McCrady, PhD
Principal Investigator
The University of New Mexico
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for individuals aged 22-85 who have been drinking alcohol in the past month and score high on an alcohol use assessment. They must be right-handed, seeking help for their drinking, not currently pregnant or using drugs other than marijuana, and without major health issues like psychosis, low IQ, or brain injuries.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Platform Treatment
Participants receive 4 weeks of a platform treatment focusing on enhancing motivation to change
Treatment
Participants receive either Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Mindfulness Based Treatment (MBT) for 8 weeks
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention
Cognitive Behavior Therapy is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada for the following indications:
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of New Mexico
Lead Sponsor
The Mind Research Network
Collaborator