The Alcohol-Pain Connection: Mechanisms and Genetic/Psychological Correlates

August 16, 2022 updated by: Joseph W. Ditre, Syracuse University
The societal impact of heavy alcohol consumption and chronic pain is substantial and warrants the existing research investment into their etiology and treatment. Moreover, evidence of significant co-occurrence between these conditions offers an opportunity to examine mechanisms in the alcohol-pain connection that may inform the development of novel treatments. Consistent with NIH PA-15-026 (Mechanistic Studies of Pain and Alcohol Dependence), the goal of the proposed study is to examine several complex and potentially bidirectional relations between pain and alcohol in one overarching model, which has never been attempted in a human experimental paradigm. The primary study aims are as follows: (1) to conduct the first test of both pharmacological and expectancy effects in acute alcohol analgesia among humans; (2) to conduct the first test of pain as a proximal antecedent of urge to drink and ad lib alcohol consumption, and to test whether acute analgesic effects predict pain-induced alcohol urge/consumption; (3) to test associations between study outcomes and candidate genetic polymorphisms that have been implicated in pain-alcohol processes; and (4) to conduct exploratory analyses of gender and pain relevant cognitive-affective factors as moderators of these outcomes. Participants will include 280 moderate-to-heavy drinkers recruited from the local community. Experimental methods will include alcohol administration (moderate dose vs. low dose vs. placebo vs. control) and pre/post assessment of static/dynamic pain responses, and capsaicin/heat pain induction (vs. no pain induction) followed by assessment of urge to drink and ad lib alcohol consumption. By employing a novel experimental paradigm, the study results will provide internally valid data with clear and direct implications for translating these findings to clinical applications. It is our expectation that this work will catalyze future research and inform clinical practice by establishing an experimental platform that allows for the demonstration of causal effects, the evaluation of treatment components prior to conducting costly clinical trials, and the identification of important theory-based biopsychosocial mechanisms that can inform the development of novel integrated treatments for individuals with co-occurring pain and alcohol use disorders.

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.

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.
379

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
    • New York
      • Syracuse, New York, United States, 13210
        • Syracuse 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 64 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. be 21-64 years of age
  2. be classified as a moderate or heavy drinker based on the Quantity-Frequency-Variability Questionnaire, which will assure that participants currently (last 3 months) consume alcohol in amounts similar to what will be administered or available in the proposed experiments

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. current acute or chronic pain
  2. chili pepper allergies (contraindicated for capsaicin)
  3. current use of prescription pain medications
  4. any possibility of being pregnant (verified at session via a pregnancy test)
  5. self-reported history of or treatment for psychiatric or alcohol/other drug problems
  6. participants who are under the age of 21 or who do not have a government issued ID; and
  7. medical conditions that contraindicate the use of alcohol (e.g., diabetes, liver disease).

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: Factorial Assignment
  • Masking: Single

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: Low Alcohol Consumption and No Pain Induction
Condition 1: Low alcohol consumption Condition 2: No pain group
Drug: Low Alcohol
Low Alcohol Consumption
Other: No Pain Induction
Water placed on forearm
Experimental: Low Alcohol Consumption and Pain Induction
Condition 1: Low alcohol consumption Condition 2: Pain group
Drug: Low Alcohol
Low Alcohol Consumption
Other: Pain Induction
10% capsaicin solution placed on forearm and heat induction
Experimental: Moderate Alcohol Consumption and No Pain Induction
Condition 1: Moderate alcohol consumption Condition 2: No pain group
Other: No Pain Induction
Water placed on forearm
Drug: Moderate Alcohol
Moderate Alcohol Consumption
Experimental: Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Pain Induction
Condition 1: Moderate alcohol consumption Condition 2: Pain group
Other: Pain Induction
10% capsaicin solution placed on forearm and heat induction
Drug: Moderate Alcohol
Moderate Alcohol Consumption
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Alcohol Consumption and No Pain Induction
Condition 1: Placebo alcohol consumption Condition 2: No pain group
Other: No Pain Induction
Water placed on forearm
Drug: Placebo Alcohol
Placebo Alcohol Consumption
Experimental: Placebo Alcohol Consumption and Pain Induction
Condition 1: Placebo alcohol consumption Condition 2: Pain group
Other: Pain Induction
10% capsaicin solution placed on forearm and heat induction
Drug: Placebo Alcohol
Placebo Alcohol Consumption
Placebo Comparator: Control and No Pain Induction
Condition 1: No alcohol consumption Condition 2: No pain group
Other: No Pain Induction
Water placed on forearm
Experimental: Control and Pain Induction
Condition 1: No alcohol consumption Condition 2: Pain group
Other: Pain Induction
10% capsaicin solution placed on forearm and heat induction

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
Alcohol Urge/Consumption
Time Frame: 15 minutes
Amount of alcohol consumed and self-reported urge to drink
15 minutes
Pain Response
Time Frame: 40 minutes
Pain Quantitative Sensory Testing before and after beverage consumption
40 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.
Syracuse 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)

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.
May 12, 2019

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, 2022

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, 2022

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).
October 11, 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.
October 11, 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.
October 17, 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 17, 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 16, 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

Keywords

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.
  • 5R01AA024844-02 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • 5R01AA024844 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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