Alcohol Drinking
Conditions
Keywords
Alcoholism, D-cycloserine, extinction, cue-exposure
Brief summary
The aim of this project is to explore whether the extinction of cue-reactivity following a cue-exposure based intervention in volunteers with an alcohol dependence is facilitated by drugs that increase NMDA-receptor function. It is hypothesised that targeted treatment with D-Cycloserine prior to each extinction training session enhances the effects on cue-reactivity. Further, a significant correlation between the reduction of cue-reactivity and both reduced craving and relapse probability is expected.
Interventions
DRUGD-cycloserine
50 mg at approximately 1.5 hours prior to cue-exposure training sessions
DRUGPlacebo
Placebo
Sponsors
German Research Foundation
Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* current DSM-IV/ ICD-10 diagnosis of alcohol dependence * controlled abstinence for a period of 5 to 21 days following admission to inpatient detoxification or day-clinic care * women (in childbearing age): use of a highly effective method of contraception * normal or corrected-to-normal vision * ability to provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* diagnosis of additional axis I or II disorders (according to DSM-IV( ICD- 10 criteria) either currently or within the past 12 months (except nicotine dependence) * positive drug screening * current medication with anti-convulsive or psychotropic drugs * MRI ineligibility * sensitivity to study medication as evidenced by a history of adverse drug experience * severe withdrawal symptoms (e.g. convulsions, delirium) * disposition towards experiencing convulsions/ epilepsy * history of schizophrenic disorders/ affective psychosis * neurological diseases that might affect the dopaminergic, limbic and frontal cortices or extrapyramidal motor functioning * major diseases (e.g. diabetes, liver cirrhosis, heart disease) * physical illness interfering with study procedures or affecting study outcomes * pregnancy (positive test results)/ lactation period * suicidal tendencies/ increased risk that others might be harmed -
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| reduction in cue-reactivity to alcohol-associated stimuli assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging | following completion of cue-exposure therapy |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| time to first severe relapse to alcohol consumption | at 3 and 6 months after treatment completion |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Primary ContactFalk Kiefer, Professor
Outcome results
None listed