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Effects of Subconscious Memory Extinction in Patients With Alcohol Dependence and Its Mechanism

Effects of Subconscious Memory Extinction in Patients With Alcohol Dependence and Its Mechanism

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05942521
Enrollment
90
Registered
2023-07-12
Start date
2023-07-20
Completion date
2024-12-31
Last updated
2023-10-16

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

Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder

Keywords

Alcohol, Craving, Extinction training, Subconscious

Brief summary

In this study, the subconscious memory extinction therapy based on very brief exposure is used to intervene to reduce the alcohol craving of alcohol-dependent patients, prevent relapse, and observe the psychological craving, heart rate, skin conductance, and pupil diameter changes of the patients during the brief exposure extinction. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Whether subconscious extinction intervention would reduce psychological craving and alcohol relapse? 2. What is the mechanism of subconscious extinction intervention in alcohol dependence?

Detailed description

After being informed about the study and potential risks, all patients giving written informed consent will undergo a screening period to determine eligibility for study entry. patients who meet the eligibility requirements will be randomized in very brief extinction, clearly visible extinction, or very brief neutral extinction. This study will recruit alcohol-dependent participants aged 18-60 in the ward, observe reported subjective scores during the extinction, and record the heart rate, skin conductance, pupil diameter, and ERP changes.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALVery brief extinction

The very brief extinction presents a very short (33ms) repetitive sequence of alcohol cues, followed by a masking stimulus(117ms), which masks the alcohol cues. In the case of repeated exposure to alcohol stimulation, the response to the stimulation is desensitized at the level of unconscious processing.

BEHAVIORALClearly visible extinction

The clearly visible extinction presents a repetitive sequence of alcohol cues(150ms) without a masking stimulus. In the case of repeat exposure to alcohol stimulation, the response to the stimulation is desensitized at the level of conscious processing.

BEHAVIORALVery brief neutral extinction

The very brief neutral extinction presents a very short (33ms) repetitive sequence of neutral cues, followed by a masking stimulus(117ms), which masks the neutral cues. In the case of repeated exposure to neutral stimulation, the response to the stimulation is desensitized at the level of unconscious processing.

Sponsors

Shenzhen Kangning Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Adopt DSM-IV alcohol dependence diagnostic criteria; 2. Complete detoxification treatment without obvious withdrawal symptoms; 3. Informed consent, voluntary participation.

Exclusion criteria

1. Acute alcohol dependence withdrawal period; 2. Patients who meet the DSM-Ⅳ diagnosis of psychoactive substances or non-psychoactive substances other than alcohol (except nicotine); 3. Previous acceptance experienced similar exposure therapy;

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change from baseline in alcohol craving by using Visual Analog Scale of Alcohol Craving at week 1.baseline and week 1Alcohol-specific Visual Analog Scale is a valid measurements of craving for a alcohol. Possible scores range from 0(no craving) to 10 (want to drink imediately). Change= (week 1 score - baseline score)
Relapse rateFour week after interventionPercentage of participants who relapse by assuming that drinking alcohol on more than 3 days in a month in anunrestricted environment is re-drinking

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Skin conductance level (SCL)During the intervention periodThus skin conductance level can serve as a stable and useful index of autonomic arousal in clinical trials. Skin conductance signals are measured via electrodes placed on fingertips, arrange from 0 to 50 uS.
Pupil diameterDuring the intervention periodThe pupil diameter is measured by Eyelink 1000 plus eyetracking, Pupil size data are available with every data point collected by the EyeLink 1000 Plus. To evaluate the level of accuracy obtained in pupil size measures, dots between 2.0 and 5.0 mm in diameter were laser printed.
Event-relatred potential (ERP)During the intervention periodAn ERP is a technique that can be used to assess how the brain is functioning in response to stimulation. Event-related potentials (ERPs) are derived from electroencephalographic (EEG) measurement of neural activity. The 64-channel EEG system from Brain Products company would be used to measure P300, N400, and slow potential.

Countries

China

Contacts

Primary ContactXiaojian Jia
94205638@qq.com+8613823797115
Backup ContactQi Wang
16981017@qq.com+8613688819667

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026