Understanding the role of the cerebellum in 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 study aims to explore how the cerebellum interacts with the brain's reward system in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). It will investigate the nature of cerebellar input to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and how this input is altered in AUD. Additionally, the study will assess the relationship between cerebellar integrity and reward activation in response to alcohol cues. Participants will undergo cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to evaluate its potential in reducing alcohol cravings and modifying brain connectivity related to reward processing.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* completed at least 8 years of education

Exclusion Criteria:

* Estimated Intelligence Quotient (IQ) \< 90
* less than 5th grade reading level
* Left handed
* Non-fluent in English
* current drug use disorder other than alcohol (except nicotine and caffeine) and or recent drug use in the last 90 days
* Positive breath alcohol level at time of MRI scan or discrepancies between alcohol biomarker and self-report that cannot be resolved
* Exhibiting symptoms of alcohol withdrawal on visit 1 assessment
* Significant current psychiatric distress and or treatment
* History of any central nervous system disorder, presence of a seizure disorder, or use of anticonvulsant medication in the past 3 months
* any serious medical condition detected on assessment or by medical record review; or have liver function tests more than three times normal at screening
* History of metal implantation that would preclude MRI scanning; or other implants, pumps, pacemakers that would be contraindications for MRI scanning
* Abnormal MRI scan or history of significant closed head trauma
* Evidence of dementia
* For women, pregnancy

Where it's running

• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
  Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: John E Desmond, PhD — Johns Hopkins University
• Study coordinator: John E Desmond, PhD
• Email: jdesmon2@jhmi.edu
• Phone: 410-502-3583

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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.