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

Shenzhen Kangning Hospital

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Very brief extinction; Behavioral: Very brief neutral extinction; Behavioral: Clearly visible extinction

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05942521

2022-K013-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

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?

Full 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.

Enrollment: 90 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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;

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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90 participants in 3 patient groups

Very brief extinction

Experimental group

Description:

Enrolled participants would receive very brief extinction approximately 25 minutes per day for 2 days.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Very brief extinction

Very brief neutral extinction

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Enrolled participants would receive very brief neutral extinction for approximately 25 minutes per day for 2 days.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Very brief neutral extinction

Clearly visible extinction

Active Comparator group

Description:

Enrolled participants would receive clearly visible extinction therapy for approximately 25 minutes per day for 2 days.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Clearly visible extinction