Comparison of the effects of real-life cue exposure (CE) to a standardized virtual reality (VR) cue exposure and to a VR-CE individualized using artificial intelligence on cue-induced alcohol craving

Comparison of the effects of real-life cue exposure (CE) to a standardized virtual reality (VR) cue exposure and to a VR-CE individualized using artificial intelligence on cue-induced alcohol craving - VREx-AI

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00037241

Enrollment

Registered

2025-06-23

Start date

2025-09-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-10-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder (DSM-5)

Interventions

Group 1: Six-armed randomized controlled cross-over study comparing the effects of three different cue-exposure conditions at different time points: A – alcohol cue exposure in a BarLab setting

B – alcohol cue exposure in a standardized virtual reality setting

C – alcohol cue exposure in an AI-personalized virtual reality setting Group 1: ABC Group 2: Group 2: ACB Group 3: Group 3: BCA Group 4: Group 4: BAC Group 5: Group 5: CBA Group 6: Group 6: CAB

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: • Diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder (AUD) according to the DSM-5 (i.e. meeting >= 2 criteria) • Ability of the individual to understand the character and the individual consequences of the study • Capacity to provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: • Current psychotic or bipolar disorder or current severe depressive episode with suicidal ideations • Any withdrawal symptoms at the time of the study visit (CIWA score >3) • Breath alcohol concentration > 0.0 at the time of the study visit • Positive drug screening (amphetamines/ecstasy, opiates, cocaine, barbiturates, cannabis, psychotropic drugs) • Severe comorbidities and/or complications that demand invasive surgery and/or intensive care • Acute suicidal tendency or acute endangerment of self and others

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The difference of alcohol craving intensity from baseline (of each session) to three minutes into cue exposure, measured using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 ("no craving") to 100 ("most intense craving")	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Differences from before the exposure to three minutes after the start of the cue exposure in: 1. Alcohol Urge Questionnaire score 2. Subjective arousal 3. Subjective valence 4. Heart rate variability 5. Eye-Tracking parameters (Dwell Time, First Fixation Duration of the alcohol stimulus)	—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactPatrick Bach

Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit Klinik für Abhängiges Verhalten und Suchtmedizin

patrick.bach@zi-mannheim.de+49 621/ 1703-3888

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026