Future-Thinking Cues for Alcoholism
(BEAM Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores how varying levels of intensity in future thinking can aid individuals with alcohol use disorder. Researchers aim to determine if vividly imagining future events can influence decisions about delaying rewards, encourage treatment-seeking behavior, and activate specific brain areas. Participants will be divided into two groups: one experiencing high-intensity future-thinking cues and the other low-intensity cues, with brain activity monitored during decision-making tasks. Ideal participants frequently drink heavily and can understand English. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could shape future treatments for alcohol use disorder.
Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.
What prior data suggests that this protocol is safe for participants?
Studies have shown that the high-intensity cues tested in this trial are generally safe because they involve images and thoughts, not medication. Since this trial focuses on mental exercises instead of drugs, it avoids the usual risks linked to new medications.
In this trial, high-intensity and low-intensity cues represent different levels of mental tasks. These tasks aim to help people think about the future to see if they can change their drinking habits. Because the trial involves thinking tasks, no known physical side effects exist.
The main concern in trials like these might be if participants feel uncomfortable or stressed by the tasks. However, such feelings are usually temporary and not harmful. The trial team will closely monitor participants to ensure everyone remains comfortable.
Overall, thinking about future events is considered safe. The trial aims to see if these mental tasks can help people make better choices about drinking.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about the Future-Thinking Cues for Alcoholism trial because it explores innovative psychological techniques to tackle alcohol use disorder, a condition typically treated with medications like naltrexone or acamprosate and behavioral therapies. Unlike traditional treatments that focus on chemical interactions or behavioral modifications, this trial investigates the power of mental imagery and cognitive processes. By using high-intensity future-thinking cues, this approach aims to alter decision-making patterns in the brain, potentially offering a new, non-invasive way to reduce cravings and prevent relapse. This could open pathways for more personalized and brain-focused treatment strategies.
What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for alcoholism?
Research has shown that cue exposure therapy (CET) can help people with alcohol use disorder by reducing cravings and drinking habits. Several studies have found CET to have a small to medium impact on lowering the number of drinks consumed daily and the frequency of drinking. About 41% of studies found CET more effective at reducing cravings compared to other treatments. This therapy exposes people to alcohol-related triggers, helping them manage their reactions. In this trial, participants will receive either high-intensity or low-intensity episodic future-thinking cue images during an MRI decision-making task, which may help those struggling with alcohol use disorder better resist the urge to drink.678910
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for people who drink heavily (at least 2 heavy drinking days a month or more than 7 drinks per week for females and 14 for males) or score ≥8 on the AUDIT. Participants must understand English but other exclusion criteria are not specified.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive either high-intensity or low-intensity episodic future-thinking cue images during an MRI decision-making task
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in delayed reward preference and prospective thinking
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- High-Intensity Cue
- Low-Intensity Cue
Trial Overview
The BEAM study tests if high-intensity future-thinking cues can help those with alcohol use disorder prefer delayed rewards over immediate ones, increase interest in treatment, and affect brain activity related to decision-making.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Participants will receive high-intensity episodic future-thinking cue images, and high-intensity episodic recent-thinking cue images during an MRI decision-making task.
Participants will receive low-intensity episodic future-thinking cue images, and low-intensity episodic recent-thinking cue images during an MRI decision-making task.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Indiana University
Lead Sponsor
Citations
The efficacy of cue exposure therapy on alcohol use ...
The present meta-analysis demonstrated that CET has small to medium effect on drinks per day, drinking days and relapse.
Effectiveness of Cue-Exposure Therapy on Alcohol Craving in ...
As cues correlate to relapse, many researchers suggest cue-exposure therapy (CET) to decrease cue reactivity. The purpose of CET is to extinguish conditioned ...
Effectiveness of Reducing Craving in Alcohol Use Disorder ...
This study aims to evaluate the web-based serious game SALIENCE (Stop Alcohol in Everyday Life-New Choices and Evaluations) as an add-on therapy for AUD.
The efficacy of conventional and technology assisted cue ...
Compared to control interventions, CET was found more effective in 41% of the studies that examined cravings, and in 57% of the studies that examined ...
Cue exposure therapy for the treatment of alcohol use ...
Therefore, we aimed to examine the effectiveness of CET targeting AUD compared to active control conditions in a meta-analytic review. Following ...
A Call for Research on High-Intensity Alcohol Use - PMC
For example, young adults consuming 15+ drinks reported more driving after drinking than those consuming 10–14 drinks or 5–9 drinks, and they were also more ...
Review Cue exposure therapy for the treatment of alcohol ...
Secondary outcomes were total drinking score, latency to relapse and alcohol induced cravings (cue-induced cravings).
High-Intensity Drinking versus Heavy Episodic Drinking
At all ages, high-intensity drinkers were at three or more times greater odds of meeting criteria for an alcohol use disorder than HED-only drinkers.
Alcohol Screening Scores, Adverse Mental Health ...
High alcohol use scores (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score ≥20) were associated with depression, anxiety, crack or cocaine use, and other ...
Overview of Alcohol Use Disorder | American Journal of ...
Heavy drinking, which is also common, contributes to multiple adverse medical, psychiatric, and social outcomes and more than 140,000 deaths ...
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