Decreasing the Temporal Window in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder

A brief questionnaire (the Alcohol Urges Questionnaire) will be used to assess alcohol craving. The Alcohol Urges Questionnaire is an 8-item survey that produces scores between 8-56, where higher scores indicate greater craving. Change in alcohol craving will be compared within-subjects between Session 1 and Session 2. The scores will be compared between groups (arms) across sessions.

Time frame: At the first session (S1; baseline measures) and Session 2 (S2; occurs approximately 2-3 days after S1)

Population: A total of 124 participants enrolled in the study, with 112 participants (the proposed sample size) completing both sessions. We had additional attrition in the data inspection stage. Participants were included in the analyses if they: 1) completed both sessions, and 2) passed all attention checks programmed in the surveys for both sessions.

DD rates were measured using an adjusting amount task where participants were presented with hypothetical choices between smaller immediate or larger later amounts of money after a range of delays (1 day-25 years). Individual indifference points were calculated for each delay and then used to estimate DD rates for each participant using Mazur's (1987) equation: V = A/(1+kD), where V is the value of the indifference point, A is the amount of the larger delayed reward, k is the discounting rate, and D is the delay. Discounting rates (k) were then natural-logarithmically transformed (ln(k)). Higher ln(k) indicates steeper discounting and greater reward devaluation with increases in delay, while a lower ln(k) reflects shallower discounting and less reward devaluation with increases in delay. Changes in ln(k) were compared within-subjects between S1 and S2. Average ln(k) was calculated for each session (S1 and S2) in each condition (scarcity or neutral).

Time frame: At the first session (S1; baseline measures) and Session 2 (S2; occurs approximately 2-3 days after S1)

Population: A total of 124 participants enrolled in the study, with 112 participants (the proposed sample size) completing both sessions. We had additional attrition in the data inspection stage. Participants were included in the analyses if they: 1) completed both sessions, and 2) passed all attention checks programmed in the surveys for both sessions.

Participants completed a hypothetical Alcohol Purchase Task where they had to indicate how many drinks they would purchase at different prices ($0 to $80 per drink). The number of drinks purchased at $0 was used to calculate the intensity of demand. Changes in intensity of alcohol demand were compared within-subjects between Session 1 and Session 2, and between narrative type (scarcity or neutral).

Time frame: At the first session (S1; baseline measures) and Session 2 (S2; occurs approximately 2-3 days after S1)

Population: A total of 124 participants enrolled in the study, with 112 participants (the proposed sample size) completing both sessions. We had additional attrition in the data inspection stage. Participants were included in the analyses if they: 1) completed both sessions, and 2) passed all attention checks programmed in the surveys for both sessions.

The Stress Appraisal Measure will be used to measure acute stress induced by the intervention. This measure is a 28-item survey that produces scores between 28-140, where higher scores indicate greater stress. Change scores were compared between groups during Session 2, to assess differences in stress level as a function of the narrative presented.

Time frame: Session 2 (occurs approximately 2-3 days after baseline [S1])

Population: A total of 124 participants enrolled in the study, with 112 participants (the proposed sample size) completing both sessions. We had additional attrition in the data inspection stage. Participants were included in the analyses if they: 1) completed both sessions, and 2) passed all attention checks programmed in the surveys for both sessions.