Neuroendocrine Response to Oral Alcohol Administration

August 1, 2022 updated by: Yale University
This study proposes to examine both the peripheral and central nervous system responses when light social drinkers and binge/heavy social drinkers are exposed to oral ethanol. The findings will provide a greater understanding of the brain mechanisms (cerebral blood flow and functional connectivity) underlying the association between stress, cortisol release, heart rate variability, alcohol craving, and alcohol stimulant and sedative effects. This knowledge could be significant in developing new therapies for the treatment of alcoholism.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study was a single-blind, mixed Between Subjects and repeated measures across Alcohol and Placebo conditions in separate sessions in a 2 scan neuroimaging experiment. The two groups of participants were Moderate Social Drinkers and Binge/Heavy Social Drinkers, categorized on the basis of NIAA criteria for moderate non-binge and binge/heavy drinking. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive alcoholic or non-alcoholic beer in scanning condition 1 or condition 2. Before each scan, they were exposed to 3 12 Oz. alcoholic beer or 3 12 Oz. non-alcoholic beer via an Alcohol Taste Test (ATT) during which they were asked to taste the beers to determine if they were same or different. The order of the two conditions was counterbalanced and randomized across participants. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was then measured using Arterial Spin Labeling. In addition to measuring the different effects of alcoholic beer vs. non-alcoholic beer on CBF, the investigators also measured subjective alcohol effects, alcohol craving, breath alcohol levels, cortisol, and ACTH. Statistical tests were performed to determine if these dependent measures were due to Group, Condition, or a Group x Condition interaction. Finally, the relationship between these variables and the amount of beer consumed at the second post-scan ATT was examined. The post-scan ATT only presented with the choice to drink non-alcoholic beer in order to more clearly predict behavioral motivation for alcohol from PreATT alcohol response in cortisol, CBF and subjective ratings. Data was obtained by research staff, nurse, and MRI technician who were blind to condition as were the subjects but PI and project director were not blind.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
64

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Connecticut
      • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06519
        • Yale University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years to 45 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Binge/Heavy Social Drinkers (HSD): has never met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol or substance dependence; regular alcohol use over the past year of at least 10 drinks per week, including at lease one occasion per week consuming >4 drinks (males) or >3 drinks (females).
  • Able to read and write English.
  • Light Social Drinkers (LSD): has never met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol or substance dependence; regular alcohol use over the past year of 1-3 drinks per occasion, 1-3 times weekly, with no more than one occasion per month of drinking >4 drinks (male) or >3 drinks (females) (King et al., 2002).
  • Do not meet criteria for any Axis I DSM-IV psychiatric diagnoses except for individuals with a past diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; and provide negative urine toxicology screens during initial appointments and at admission for IV/fMRI sessions.
  • Body Mass Index between 20-28.
  • No current or former nicotine dependence.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Meet current criteria for dependence on any psychoactive substance, excluding caffeine.
  • Current or past history of alcohol dependence or abuse.
  • Any current use of opiates or past history of opiate abuse/dependence.
  • Current use of any psychoactive drugs, including anxiolytics, antidepressants, naltrexone or antabuse.
  • Any psychotic disorder or current psychiatric symptoms requiring specific attention, including need for psychiatric medications for current major depression and anxiety disorders.
  • Any significant current medical condition such as neurological, cardiovascular, endocrine, renal, liver, thyroid pathology; subjects on medications for any medical condition will be excluded.
  • Peri and post menopausal women, and those with hysterectomies.
  • Pregnant and lactating women will be excluded.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Alcoholic Beverage
Participants will complete an MRI and oral alcohol session.
Drug: Ethanol
Other: Alcoholic Beverage
In addition to the oral delivery, an IV line will be placed for the purpose of drawing blood during the MRI session.
Placebo Comparator: Non-Alcoholic Beverage
Participants will complete an MRI and oral non-alcoholic session.
Drug: Ethanol
Other: Non-Alcoholic Beverage
In addition to the oral delivery, an IV line will be placed for the purpose of drawing blood during the MRI session.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Blood Flow
Time Frame: End of Procedure (45 minutes)
Blood flow is measured in ml/100 grams/minute. The interpretation is that blood flow to that area indicates that region of the brain is responding to the consumption of alcohol or alcohol cues. Change in blood flow will be calculated as the change (and slope) of measurements taken at 10, 20, 30 and 45 minutes during the procedure.
End of Procedure (45 minutes)
Change in Amount of drink consumed (alcohol or placebo)
Time Frame: Pre-scan ATT and immediately Post scan ATT
Amount of drink consumed (alcohol or placebo) during the Alcohol Taste Test (ATT)
Pre-scan ATT and immediately Post scan ATT

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in Alcohol Effects (BAES)
Time Frame: Post follow up to Procedure (125 minutes)
Alcohol effects will be measured using the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES). The BAES is a 12 item questionnaire with a 12-120 range. The higher the total value (up to 120), the greater the measured effects of alcohol. The change in alcohol effects will be assessed with the taking the change (and slopes) of measurements at 45, 30 and 5 minutes prior to procedure and comparing it to measurements taken at 65, 95, 110, 125 minutes following the procedure.
Post follow up to Procedure (125 minutes)
Changes in Alcohol Effects (DEQ)
Time Frame: Post follow up to Procedure (125 minutes)
Alcohol effects will be measured using the Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ). The DEQ consists of 5 questions with 5-25 total point distribution. The greater the total points, the greater the measured effect of alcohol. The change in alcohol effects will be assessed with the taking the change (and slopes) of measurements at 45, 30 and 5 minutes prior to procedure and comparing it to measurements taken at 65, 95, 110, 125 minutes following the procedure.
Post follow up to Procedure (125 minutes)
Changes in Alcohol Urges (AUQ)
Time Frame: Post follow up to Procedure (125 minutes)
The urge to consume alcohol will be measured using the Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ). The AUQ consists of 8 questions 8-56 total point distribution. The greater the total points, the greater the measured urge to consume alcohol. The change in alcohol urge will be assessed with the taking the change (and slopes) of measurements at 45, 30 and 5 minutes prior to procedure and comparing it to measurements taken at 65, 95, 110, 125 minutes following the procedure.
Post follow up to Procedure (125 minutes)
Change in Cortisol
Time Frame: Post follow up to Procedure (125 minutes)
The units for cortisol are micrograms/deciliter and the interpretation is that amount has been released into the blood stream from the HPA axis in response to alcohol or alcohol cues. Change in Cortisol will be calculated by taking the change (and slopes) of measurements at 45, 30 and 5 minutes prior to procedure and comparing it to measurements taken at 65, 95, 110, 125 minutes following the procedure.
Post follow up to Procedure (125 minutes)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Yale University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Sara Blaine, PhD, Addictions, Division of Yale Stress Center
  • Principal Investigator: Rajita Sinha, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 8, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 30, 2018

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 30, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 19, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 22, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 24, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 4, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 1, 2022

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1502015387
  • 1R21AA025277-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • 1K99AA025401-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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