Combining brain stimulation and cognitive training for alcohol use disorder

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This project aims to develop new treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD) by combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with cognitive training focused on executive functioning. The study will investigate whether stimulating the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) alongside cognitive exercises can enhance treatment outcomes and support long-term abstinence from alcohol. By exploring individual differences in genetic and epigenetic factors, the research seeks to tailor interventions for better efficacy. The ultimate goal is to create effective therapeutic strategies that reduce the likelihood of relapse in individuals with AUD.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnostic criteria for AUD
* Abstinent from alcohol use
* Must have the intention to remain in the Lodging Plus program until the end of the intervention portion of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any medical condition or treatment with neurological sequelae (i.e. stroke, tumor, loss of consciousness\>30 min, HIV)
* A head injury resulting in a skull fracture or a loss of consciousness exceeding 30 minutes (i.e., moderate or severe TBI)
* Any contraindications for tDCS or MRI scanning (tDCS contraindication: history of seizures; MRI contraindications; metal implants, pacemakers or any other implanted electrical device, injury with metal, braces, dental implants, non-removable body piercings, pregnancy, breathing or moving disorder)
* Any primary psychotic disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder); Participants with other treated and stable psychiatric disorders will be included
* Presence of a condition that would render study measures difficult or impossible to administer or interpret
* Primary current substance use disorder diagnosis on a substance other than alcohol except for caffeine or nicotine
* Clinical evidence for Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
* Left-handedness
* Entrance to the treatment program under a court mandate

Where it's running

• University of Minnesota
  Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Jazmin Camchong, PhD — Univeristy of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
• Study coordinator: Jazmin Camchong, PhD
• Email: camch002@umn.edu
• Phone: (612) 842-8704

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.