Mental Imagery Intervention for Alcohol Craving

NCT04958655 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 295682
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 46
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

A within-subjects crossover, randomised controlled trial conducted at a specialist NHS outpatient addictions clinics to determine if mental imagery (of future positive \[recovery oriented\] events) and a visuospatial task (playing Tetris) can help reduce cue-induced alcohol craving. Effects of both interventions will be compared.

Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from baseline in Craving Experience Questionnaire - Strength Version (CEQ-S) Score

  This is a brief, valid and generic measure of craving/desire based on the Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Desire (Kavanagh et al.,2005) and will be completed; 1) on arrival, 2) following the first cue-induction, 3) following the first condition: the tetris task or positive image, 4) following the second cue-induction, 5) following the second condition: the tetris. The CEQ-S measure comprises of 11 items that capture the intensity, imagery and intrusiveness of craving experiences. In the strength scale, participants are asked to rate their experience on a 0-10 likert scale (0=not at all to 10=extremely). Max score = 110 Min score = 0. Higher scores indicate higher strength of craving.

  Throughout study completion, an average of 1.5 hours

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure: CORE-10

  Approx. minute 5

• Prospective Imagery Task (PIT)

  Approx. minute 7

• SCID-5-CV (Dependence and remission questionnaire). The structured clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. Clinician Version (DSM-5)

  Approx. minute 20

• Vividness Rating of Positive Image

  Approx. minute 60

Study Arms (2)

Tetris, Positive Image

OTHER

Participants randomised to order of intervention: this arm has; Tetris (Active Comparator) then Positive Future Image (Intervention).

Behavioral: Tetris Task; Behavioral: Mental Imagery for Craving Reduction

Positive Image, Tetris

OTHER

Participants randomised to order of intervention: this arm has; Positive Future Image (Intervention) then Tetris (Active Comparator).

Behavioral: Tetris Task; Behavioral: Mental Imagery for Craving Reduction

Interventions

Tetris Task BEHAVIORAL

a visual task where participants are asked to play 'tetris' i.e. attend to and manipulate shapes and positions on screen

Positive Image, Tetris; Tetris, Positive Image

Mental Imagery for Craving Reduction BEHAVIORAL

a behavioural mental imagery intervention where participants are asked to generate a specific future mental image to reduce cue-induced craving for alcohol

Positive Image, Tetris; Tetris, Positive Image

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Able to give informed consent.
• Engaging in working with a community substance misuse service
• Meets DSM-V criteria for alcohol dependency or abuse, or in early recovery.
• Alcohol is the primary substance of dependence.
• years and older.
• Proficient use of the English language to complete questionnaires and an interview.

You may not qualify if:

• Cognitive impairment
• Undergoing detoxification for alcohol
• Presence of a psychotic disorder.
• Recent parasuicidal behaviour (last month).
• High levels of intoxication.
• Severe neurodevelopmental disorder (for example Autism/ADHD) that is deemed to impact on the participants' ability to undertake the interview.
• Organic brain injury, including Korsakoff syndrome.
• Currently participating, or recently participated (last month), in other research.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• King's College London: lead
• South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London

London, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alcoholism

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• John Marsden, Prof

  King's College London

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 25, 2021
• First Posted: July 12, 2021
• Study Start: September 20, 2021
• Primary Completion: May 21, 2022
• Study Completion: May 21, 2022
• Last Updated: May 24, 2022

Record last verified: 2021-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)