NCT04283305

Virtual Reality Alcohol Avoidance Training

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Virtual Reality Based, Approach-avoidance Training Program for Alcohol Use Disorder

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 135 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The approach-avoidance training program (AATP) has shown preliminary promise as an add-on to standard treatment for alcohol dependence. However, knowledge is lacking as to whether the effectiveness of AATP can be enhanced further when performed in a typical drinking situation. The main aim of this study is to investigate whether approach-avoidance training implemented in a virtual reality bar environment is superior to the classical joystick PC-version of the AATP.

Detailed description

The study will be implemented as a randomized controlled trial. A total of 135 consecutively enrolled alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients, recruited from alcohol inpatient clinics in Germany, Poland and Denmark, will be randomized into one of three groups at the start of standard alcohol treatment: group A) stimuli-relevant AATP as usual; group B) stimuli-relevant ATTP in virtual reality, and group C) treatment as usual (TAU; control group). Treatment outcomes will be assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment and 3-month follow-up. Generalized mixed-models will be applied to compare the trajectories of the groups over time on drinking, craving and impulsiveness outcomes.

Conditions

• Alcohol Use Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Virtual reality approach avoidance training	In the VR-based AAT, patients are situated in a bar environment where drinks appear on a bar table in front of them. Patients are instructed to react to 100% of the alcoholic beverages with a push response with a controller, and to non-alcoholic drinks in 100% of the trials with a pull response. The stimuli set consists of 50 different beverages, which are displayed three times in total.
OTHER	Computer-based approach avoidance training	In the computer-based AAT, patients are situated in front of a computer where drinks appear on the screen in front of them. Patients are instructed to react to 100% of the alcoholic beverages with a push response with a joystick, and to non-alcoholic drinks in 100% of the trials with a pull response. The stimuli set consists of 50 different beverages, which are displayed three times in total.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-03-01
• Primary completion: 2020-12-31
• Completion: 2021-07-31
• First posted: 2020-02-25
• Last updated: 2020-02-25