Stress-induced Drinking in Emerging Adults: the Role of Trauma History

NCT01363180 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: P50AA010761-16
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 197
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This project is the first to use a clinical laboratory method in emerging adults to test the hypothesis that a trauma history with or without concommitant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) alters response to a stressor and promotes drinking compared to normal controls. The study will be the first to explore whether trauma-exposed (TE) and PTSD groups differ on these outcomes. It will also examine the relationship between stress reactivity and subsequent stress-induced drinking in these samples. The goal of this program is to better understand the relationship between stress and factors related to the development and maintenance of alcohol problems in early adults, so that ultimately, better treatments may be developed that reduce the incidence and severity of alcohol related problems.

Conditions

Trauma; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Study Arms (3)

Control

Behavioral: Trier Social Stress Test (TSST); Other: No stress condition

Trauma-exposed without PTSD

Behavioral: Trier Social Stress Test (TSST); Other: No stress condition

Trauma-exposed with PTSD

Behavioral: Trier Social Stress Test (TSST); Other: No stress condition

Interventions

Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) BEHAVIORAL

The TSST is a standardized psychological stress challenge where a participant performs a speech and mental math task in front of 3 unfamiliar individuals, in order to evoke an HPA axis stress response in a laboratory setting.

Control; Trauma-exposed with PTSD; Trauma-exposed without PTSD

No stress condition OTHER

Control; Trauma-exposed with PTSD; Trauma-exposed without PTSD

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 21 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

21-30 year olds

You may qualify if:

• Age: 21-30 years old.
• Must drink alcohol on at least 4 days in the past month.
• Must drink beer (thought not necessarily exclusively)
• Must be able to read and provide informed consent.
• Trauma history group criteria:
• To be eligible for Control group, participants must not have a history of Criteria A traumatic event(s), as defined by the DSM-IV.
• To be eligible for the Trauma-Exposed group (TE), participants must have a history of a Criteria A traumatic event that involves interpersonal violence, but not meet DSM-IV criteria for PTSD (current or lifetime)as defined by the MINI, and a PCL score 20 or below.
• To be eligible for the PTSD group, participants must have a history of exposure to a Criteria A traumatic event that involves interpersonal violence, currently meet criteria for PTSD (defined by DSM-IV) and a PCL score of 30 or above.

You may not qualify if:

• Currently taking psychoactive medication, antihistamines, or medication that alters HPA axis functioning.
• Severe obesity (BMI \> 40)
• Current alcohol dependence.
• Current abuse or dependence on illicit substances (with the exceptions of caffeine and nicotine)
• Smokers who cannot abstain from smoking for at least 4 hours.
• Current major depression.
• Current or lifetime psychosis.
• Any medical condition that impacts HPA axis functioning.
• Any blood clotting disorder.
• Pregnant or nursing women, or women who suspect that may be pregnant.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medical University of South Carolina: lead

Study Sites (1)

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States

Location

Related Links

• MUSC Clinical Trials Registry

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Wounds and Injuries; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Interventions

Psychological Tests

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Carla K Danielson, Ph.D.

  Medical University of South Carolina

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Suzanne Thomas, Ph.D.

  Medical University of South Carolina

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 27, 2011
• First Posted: June 1, 2011
• Study Start: January 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2015
• Study Completion: June 1, 2016
• Last Updated: June 18, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-05

Locations

US (1)