The Effects of an Acute Bout of Exercise on Alcohol and Cocaine Craving - an fNIRS Study (ExAlCo)

University of Basel

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Substance Use Disorders

Treatments: Other: Moderate exercise; Other: Intense exercise; Other: Reading

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03502486

UBasel

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study is a crossover randomised controlled trial. Alcohol or cocaine dependent participants will be recruited from inpatient and outpatient psychiatric treatment centres, on the approval of their treating physician. A healthy control group will be recruited using online advertising. All participants will undergo each of three conditions in a randomised order; 1) 20 minutes of cycle ergometry at 50-60% of maximum heart rate; 2) 20 minutes of exercise at 70-80% of maximum heart rate; 3) 20 minutes of quiet reading. Immediately before and after each condition, participants will be asked to complete a computerised Stroop test, watch a film containing substance-related images, and self-report craving levels. During the Stroop test and film viewing, participants' neural activity will be measured via functional near-infrared spectroscopy

Full description

The aim of this study is to examine whether, following acute exercise bouts at moderate and high intensities, reduced craving and increased inhibitory control can be observed in alcohol or cocaine dependent individuals. As the focus of this study is the potential of exercise to be integrated into treatment, individuals in treatment for their dependence, who have been abstinent for a short period, will be recruited.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

For alcohol or cocaine dependent participants:

• meeting three or more of the DSM-IV criteria for substance dependence (as determined by treating physician);
• minimum of 20 days and maximum of 40 days abstinence from substance of dependence;
• able to understand and complete the informed consent;
• able to travel to study site independently, as confirmed by the treating psychiatrist;
• assessed for physical and mental fitness by treating physician and cleared to take part in the study;
• fewer than 3 hours of physical exercise or sport per week;

For healthy controls:

• fewer than 3 hours of physical exercise or sport per week;
• no history of problematic alcohol or illicit drug consumption.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Questionable findings during resting ECG screen

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 3 patient groups

Moderate exercise

Experimental group

Description:

20 minutes of cycle ergometry at 50 - 60% of heart rate max.

Treatment:

Other: Moderate exercise

Intense Exercise

Experimental group

Description:

20 minutes of cycle ergometry at 70 - 80% of heart rate max.

Treatment:

Other: Intense exercise

Rest

Active Comparator group

Description:

20 minutes of seated reading.

Treatment:

Other: Reading