Alcoholism: Emotion and Thinking

Alcoholism Clinical Trial

Official title:

Affective and Conative Changes in Alcoholism

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Terminated

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00300638
• Other study ID #: H-24686
• Secondary ID: R01AA007112K05AA
• Status: Terminated
• Start date: August 2001
• Est. completion date: February 21, 2020

Study information

• Verified date: July 2021
• Source: Boston University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether long-term chronic alcoholism is associated with changes in emotional functioning and brain structure and function.

Description:

This research investigates brain structure and function in alcoholics compared to healthy nonalcoholic individuals. Alcoholics have shown impairments in cognitive processing of emotional signals. Some alcoholics are impaired in social skills, and many are unable to implement the strategies for interpersonal interactions that they recommend for themselves. For example, alcoholics have difficulty interpreting non-verbal emotional cues and recognizing facial expressions of emotion. When listening to sentences, alcoholics also have some difficulty judging emotional intonations and emotional content. In our research, we are trying to understand where in the brain these emotional behaviors take place, and whether or not the brain functions differently for alcoholic and nonalcoholic individuals. We present emotional words and pictures on a computer screen, and using MRI scans, we observe how the brain works when people purposefully respond to the words and pictures. Additionally, we are comparing brain structure and activation patterns in men and women, because there may be gender differences in responses to emotional stimuli.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Terminated
• Enrollment: 599
• Est. completion date: February 21, 2020
• Est. primary completion date: February 21, 2020
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 25 Years to 76 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female right-handed people 25 years of age or older.

• Participants either will have a past Diagnostic and Statistical Manual version IV (DSM-IV) diagnosis of alcohol dependence, or no such history at all.

• Participants will have signed an informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women.

• Shrapnel or other metal in body (dental fillings OK)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Alcoholism

Intervention

Procedure:
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
We present emotional words and pictures on a computer screen, and using MRI scans, we observe how the brain works when people purposefully respond to the words and pictures. Additionally, we are comparing brain structure and activation patterns in men and women, because there may be gender differences in responses to emotional stimuli.

Behavioral:
• Interviews, cognitive tests, and emotional measurements
We present emotional words and pictures on a computer screen, and using MRI scans, we observe how the brain works when people purposefully respond to the words and pictures. Additionally, we are comparing brain structure and activation patterns in men and women, because there may be gender differences in responses to emotional stimuli.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	VA Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital	Boston	Massachusetts

Sponsors (3)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Boston University	National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), US Department of Veterans Affairs

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (1)

Oscar-Berman M, Marinkovic K. Alcoholism and the brain: an overview. Alcohol Res Health. 2003;27(2):125-33. Review. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Alcoholism's effects on thinking, behavior and brain functioning		several visits over approximately one month