Clinical Research Directory

MPFC Theta Burst Stimulation as a Treatment Tool for Alcohol Use Disorder: Effects on Drinking and Incentive Salience

The purpose of this study is to develop transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), specifically TMS at a frequency known as theta burst stimulation (TBS), to see how it affects the brain and changes the brain's response to alcohol-related pictures. TMS and TBS are stimulation techniques that use magnetic pulses to temporarily excite specific brain areas in awake people (without the need for surgery, anesthetic, or other invasive procedures). TBS, which is a form of TMS, will be applied over the medial prefrontal cortex, (MPFC), which has been shown to be involved with drinking patterns and alcohol consumption. This study will test whether TBS can be used as an alternative tool to reduce the desire to use alcohol and reducing the brain's response to alcohol-related pictures.

The STop UNhealthy Substance Use Now Trial

The STop UNhealthy (STUN) Substance Use Now Trial (STUN II) is a multisite trial aiming to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the following strategies for improving the implementation of screening and interventions for substance use disorders in primary care: practice facilitation (PF), PF plus a learning collaborative (LC), PF plus performance incentives (PI), and PF+LC+PI. We plan to enroll 144 clinic staff participants from 48 primary care practices

Promoting Co-Parenting and Reducing Hazardous Drinking in New Families

This study aims to understand if a parenting program that helps couples learn to parent as a team and maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as maintaining safer levels of alcohol use, promotes parent and child health and well-being. Programs will be delivered prenatally and postnatally and will include both group classes and individualized sessions. A comprehensive assessment is administered during pregnancy and then at 6 and 12 months of child age. It is hypothesized that targeting intervention during the naturally motivating transition to parenthood may not only provide opportunities for long lasting behavioral change for parents, but also initiate a cascade of protective processes that ultimately reduce risk for negative emotional and behavioral outcomes for children.

Influence of TMS on Attention Modulation

The purpose of this study is to help understand how attention processes influence brain engagement during emotion and social cognition. The investigators also want to know if these processes are associated with drinking alcohol. Participation includes three study visits of about 2 hours each over approximately a month. The first visit involves a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and answering survey questions. Each of the next two visits will involve a session of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS, a non-invasive brain stimulation technique) followed by another MRI scan. People in the Auburn/Opelika area 19 or older are eligible to participate. People who drink alcohol and people who do not drink or don't drink very much are invited to participate.

An Observational Study on the Natural Course of Chronic Pancreatitis

To explore the impact on genetic and environmental factors for clinical manifestation, and the progression of chronic pancreatitis, including development of pancreatic insufficiency and other complications.