Understanding how stress affects alcohol's mood-boosting effects in social drinkers
Examining the Impact of Stress on the Emotionally Reinforcing Properties of Alcohol in Heavy Social Drinkers: A Multimodal Investigation Integrating Laboratory and Ambulatory Methods
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN · NIH-11121851
This project explores how stress makes alcohol feel more rewarding for people who drink heavily in social settings.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHAMPAIGN, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11121851 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This work aims to understand why alcohol seems to improve mood when people are stressed, especially in social situations. Researchers know that many people drink to relieve stress, and those who find alcohol very stress-relieving are more likely to develop alcohol use disorder. This project will look at how social stress, like being in new social settings, influences how rewarding alcohol feels. By using advanced methods like brain imaging, the goal is to better understand the social factors that drive heavy drinking.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this type of research would be heavy social drinkers who experience stress and are interested in understanding the relationship between stress, social settings, and alcohol consumption.
Not a fit: Patients who do not consume alcohol or do not experience stress-related drinking may not directly benefit from this specific line of inquiry.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent and treat alcohol use disorder by addressing the link between stress and alcohol's rewarding effects.
How similar studies have performed: While previous attempts to capture alcohol's stress-relieving effects experimentally have been inconsistent, this project builds on prior work indicating enhanced alcohol reward in novel social contexts.
Where this research is happening
CHAMPAIGN, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN — CHAMPAIGN, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FAIRBAIRN, CATHARINE — UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
- Study coordinator: FAIRBAIRN, CATHARINE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.