Decreasing the Temporal Window in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder

NCT04128761 | Completed Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: #23-621R01AA027381-01A1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 124
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In the absence of sufficient monetary resources, individuals must attend to immediate, minimum needs (e.g., food, shelter). This constricts one's temporal window and engenders neglect of the future. In observational studies, scarcity is associated with higher rates of delay discounting. Additionally, socioeconomic status is inversely associated with alcohol use disorder and related problems. Experimentally, scarcity shortens attention, impedes cognitive function, and increases delay discounting in multiple populations. Moreover, scarcity increases demand for fast foods in the obese and increases craving for alcohol in problem drinkers. These data suggest that economic scarcity worsens both components of reinforcer pathology (delay discounting and alcohol overvaluation), thus increasing vulnerability to alcohol use disorder. However, studies investigating the effects of scarcity on alcohol demand discounting rate have been limited. The purpose of Aim 1b is to examine effects of decreasing the temporal window and its concomitant effects on alcohol valuation (demand, and craving) and delay discounting.

Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder

Keywords

Delay Discounting; Behavioral Economic Demand; Scarcity Narrative; Alcohol Craving

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Delay Discounting (DD) Rates

  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).

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

• Intensity of Alcohol Demand

  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).

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

• Change in Alcohol Craving

  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.

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

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Stress Appraisal Measure

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

Study Arms (2)

Scarcity Narrative

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to the scarcity group will be asked to listen and consider a hypothetical narrative about a sudden loss of resources.

Behavioral: Scarcity Narrative

Neutral Narrative

SHAM COMPARATOR

Participants assigned to the neutral group will be asked to listen and consider a hypothetical narrative about a neutral change in resources.

Behavioral: Neutral Narrative

Interventions

Scarcity Narrative BEHAVIORAL

Participants are presented with a hypothetical scarcity narrative and asked to listen and consider the scenario.

Scarcity Narrative

Neutral Narrative BEHAVIORAL

Participants are presented with a hypothetical neutral narrative and asked to listen and consider the scenario.

Neutral Narrative

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 21 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• High-risk or harmful drinking (AUDIT\>15)
• years of age or older
• Desire to quit or cut down on their drinking, but do not have proximate plans to enroll in treatment for AUD during the study period

You may not qualify if:

• having a current unmanaged psychotic disorder
• reporting current pregnancy or lactation
• having dementia

Sponsors & Collaborators

• McMaster University: collaborator
• Arizona State University: collaborator
• Carilion Clinic: collaborator
• University of Kentucky: collaborator
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: lead
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alcoholism

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Alcohol-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Stephen LaConte
• Organization: Virginia Tech

slaconte@vtc.vt.edu

5405262008

Study Officials

• Stephen M LaConte, PhD

  Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 10, 2019
• First Posted: October 16, 2019
• Study Start: September 21, 2023
• Primary Completion: May 28, 2024
• Study Completion: May 28, 2024
• Last Updated: December 17, 2025
• Results First Posted: December 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Time Frame: Data will be made available upon request after dissemination of results.
• Access Criteria: Data requests will be reviewed by the principal investigator and data will be shared with the expectation of acknowledgment of funding source and primary study team.

Locations

US (1)