Virtual Reality Cognitive Training in Alcohol Use Disorder

Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Cognitive Function; Feasibility

Treatments: Behavioral: Cognitive training using the Systemic Lisbon Battery; Behavioral: Treatment-as-usual

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04505345

SLB_AUD02

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to test the feasibility of using exercises in virtual reality for cognitive training of patients with alcohol use disorder undergoing residential treatment.

Full description

Alcohol use disorder has been associated with diverse physical and mental morbidities. Among the main consequences of chronic and excessive alcohol use are cognitive and executive deficits. Some of these deficits may be reversed, with improvements in specific cognitive and executive domains, with behavioral approaches consisting in cognitive training. The advent of computer-based interventions may leverage these improvements, but RCTs on the use of digital interactive-based intervention are still scarce.

The aim consists in exploring whether a cognitive training approach using virtual reality exercises based on activities of daily living is feasible for improving cognitive function in patients with alcohol use disorder undergoing residential treatment.

The method consists in a two-arm randomized controlled trial with individuals recovering from alcohol use disorder in a therapeutic community that will be assigned to an experimental and a control group. The experimental group consists of virtual reality-based cognitive training whereas the control group of treatment-as-usual. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery of tests will be used consisting in tests for global cognition, executive functions, and specific tests form memory, attention and cognitive flexibility. The AB design will involve a baseline assessment before intervention and post-intervention assessment.

Enrollment: 41 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• At least 18 years old
• Without history of psychiatric or neurological disorders
• Attending the inpatient program for rehabilitation of alcohol use disorder

Exclusion criteria

• Psychosis episode during the intervention
• Withdrawal from the inpatient program for rehabilitation of alcohol use disorder

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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41 participants in 2 patient groups

Virtual reality cognitive training

Experimental group

Description:

Virtual reality cognitive training consists of a behavioral intervention of 10 sessions of training using virtual reality exercises depicting daily life activities from the Systemic Lisbon Battery aiming cognitive impairments.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive training using the Systemic Lisbon Battery

Treatment-as-usual

Other group

Description:

Treatment-as-usual for alcohol use disorder (AUD) in our partner institution, a therapeutic community for rehabilitation of AUD, is conducted according to the Minnesota Model requiring alcohol abstinence.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Treatment-as-usual