NCT06701500 Assessing Habitual, Goal-Directed, and Pavlovian Influences in Alcohol Use Disorder
| NCT ID | NCT06701500 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Technische Universität Dresden |
| Condition | Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) |
| Study Type | OBSERVATIONAL |
| Enrollment | 180 participants |
| Start Date | 2024-03-02 |
| Primary Completion | 2025-03-31 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
This is an observational study. You will not receive an experimental treatment; researchers will collect data based on your existing condition or standard treatment.
This trial targets 180 participants in total. It began in 2024-03-02 with a primary completion date of 2025-03-31.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
The first aim of this study is to establish the role of maladaptive reliance on habits for impaired control in addiction, employing a novel task - the Action-Sequence-Task (AST), which assesses interference between habitual and goal-directed control. The AST, along with the developed computational model, will be employed to test whether participants with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and control participants differ with respect to task performance and estimated model parameters. The investigators hypothesize stronger habitual behavior (increased habitual tendency) and an increased susceptibility to conflict between habitual and goal-directed control, measured as increased interference, are associated with AUD. The second aim of the study is to understand whether Pavlovian-to-Instrumental Transfer (PIT) reflects more of a controlled, goal-directed process, or a more automatic, habitual process. The investigators will use the single-lever PIT task as it is an efficient tool for testing the interaction between Pavlovian cues and instrumental behavior, especially when they are in conflict. In these trials, top-down control must be allocated to successfully overcome the conflict, which may share some common underlying mechanisms with the arbitration between goal-directed and habitual behavior during conflict, as assessed by the novel AST. The third aim of the study is to investigate whether severely dependent AUD patients would show a stronger PIT effect compared to a control group, consistent with the investigators' previous findings.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 18-65 years of age * AUD subjects only: meet 4 or more criteria for DSM-5 alcohol use disorder * Sufficient motor skills and visual acuity to use PC * Ability to consent to the study and complete the questionnaires * Sufficient German skills Exclusion Criteria: * Lifetime diagnosis of DSM-5 bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or schizophrenia spectrum disorder * Current diagnosis of severe major depression according to DSM-5, or presence of suicidal intention * Pregnancy * Severe withdrawal symptoms * Acute drug intoxication at the appointments
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT06701500 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 65 Years, studying Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT06701500 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT06701500 is actively recruiting participants. Visit ClinicalTrials.gov or contact Technische Universität Dresden to inquire about joining.
Where is the NCT06701500 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Dresden, Germany.
Who is sponsoring the NCT06701500 clinical trial?
NCT06701500 is sponsored by Technische Universität Dresden. The trial plans to enroll 180 participants.