Clinical Research Directory

Exploring the Effects of Brief Mindfulness Training With Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Alcohol Cue Reactivity Among Young Adult Heavy Drinkers

In the present study, we will assess the acceptability and feasibility of a brief intervention designed to help young heavy drinkers reduce their alcohol consumption. All participants will complete a brief (1-week) mindfulness intervention, and participants will be randomized to receive either active or inactive Respiratory-gated Auricular Vagal Afferent Nerve Stimulation (RAVANS) during two in-person laboratory visits. Heart rate variability data and self-report durvey data will be collected to assess the impact of the intervention on autonomic regulation, alcohol consumption, and additional clinical measures.

A Brief Intervention for Alcohol Users With Interpersonal Trauma

The current proposal aims to enhance a mobile-delivered brief intervention for young adults with heavy alcohol use and interpersonal trauma by including adaptive coping strategies for managing trauma-related distress and using peer coaches after delivery of the intervention to maintain treatment gains. Individuals will be randomized to a modified brief intervention incorporating with peer coaches, a standard brief intervention, or assessment only. Participants will be followed up at 3 and 6 months post intervention. The investigators hypothesize that the trauma-informed and peer-supported brief intervention (TIPS-BI) will show low levels of dropout, will be perceived positively by participants, and will result in greater reductions in alcohol use compared to a standard brief intervention and assessment only.

Alcohol-ROC-Training

The goal of the proposed study is to examine whether brief training in regulation of craving (ROC-T) affects alcohol drinking. The study will consist of a basic screening (phone and online), and in person visit to determine eligibility and conduct pre-intervention baseline assessments, 1-4 training (ROC-T) visits, a post-intervention assessment visit, and 1-2 phone/online follow up assessments.The two active conditions of ROC-T are based on cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBT) and mindfulness-based treatments (MBT).

Aerobic Exercise Addition to Cognitive Behavioural Treatment in Impotence Metabolic-syndrome Drinkers

Cognitive Behavioural Treatment is used as treatment for Heavy Drinking, Impotence, and Metabolic Syndrome. The efficacy of adding aerobic training to this treatment is not tested till now.

Gabapentin to Reduce Alcohol and Improve Viral Load Suppression

GRAIL is a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) among 300 HIV-positive persons with heavy alcohol consumption (by NIAAA definition) who have had detectable HIV viral load (HVL) at least 6 months after their HIV diagnosis. This trial aims to test the efficacy of gabapentin versus placebo to achieve undetectable HVL and assess the impact of gabapentin compared to placebo on alcohol consumption, pain severity, ART adherence, and engagement in HIV care. HIV viral load will be assessed at 3 (primary), 6 and 12 months via laboratory test. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned into one of two study arms: 1) gabapentin (1800mg/day target dose) for 3 months vs. 2) placebo for 3 months. All participants will receive evidence-based counseling for alcohol and either an active medication or placebo.

Affirmative Psychotherapy for Sexual Minority Women's Mental and Behavioral Health

The purpose of this 2-arm randomized controlled trial is to assess the efficacy of a 10-session lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ)-affirmative cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy (CBT) delivered via telehealth in a large sample of sexual minority women (SMW) in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The investigators will assess whether the EQuIP (Empowering Queer Identities in Psychotherapy) treatment demonstrates significant reductions in heavy drinking (HD) and mental health symptoms (e.g., depression) compared to LGBTQ-affirmative treatment-as-usual.

Adolescent Substance Use Prevention Intervention Research Study in Pediatric Primary Care

Our goal is to conduct a large multi-site randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a promising computer-facilitated Screening and clinician Brief Intervention (cSBI) system designed for delivery by pediatric primary care clinicians and aimed at reducing unhealthy alcohol use and related riding/driving safety risk among adolescent patients. Our setting will be the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) national primary care research network, with \>600 U.S. primary care practices having participated in recent studies. This trial addresses the evidence gap identified in the latest U.S. Preventive Services Task Force review of alcohol screening and brief counseling interventions among adolescents, and, if shown effective, the cSBI system could be widely disseminated via AAP's existing education, teaching, and advocacy platforms to its 67,000 pediatrician members, thereby greatly increasing the potential for population-level impact of alcohol screening and brief intervention for U.S. adolescents.

Helpline Pilot Factorial Trial

The pilot factorial trial will (1) evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of the intervention components (Aim 2.1), and (2) collect proof-of-concept data on the impact of the components on the proximal (motivation, self-efficacy, and self-regulation) and distal (quantity and frequency of HED) outcomes (Aim 2.2). Participants will include 120 postpartum mothers recruited from social media. The investigators will conduct a pilot 2X2X2 balanced full factorial trial, with 4 factors (1 constant, 3 randomized to 2 levels each) and 8 study conditions. The 4 factors will include: (1) Standard Helpline (constant); (2) Motivational Interviewing (yes vs. no); (3) Coping skills training (yes vs. no); (4) Automated messaging (yes vs. no). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 8 study conditions, which will determine which combination of intervention components participants receive.

Study of Nitrate-Rich Juice on Cognitive Function in Heavy Alcohol Drinkers: a Two-Stage Adaptive Design Real-World Clinical Trial

It is known that alcohol consumption can lead to cognitive impairment and dysregulation of inflammatory responses. A preliminary randomized controlled trial conducted by our research team has suggested that nitrate may improve cognition in hospitalized patients with alcohol dependence. To further expand the population and applicability, this study aims to explore the effects of nitrate on cognition in a real-world population of heavy drinkers. The researchers have designed a two-stage clinical trial: the first stage involves the analysis of existing data, and the second stage will recruit 43-54 new participants for a 14-day dietary inorganic nitrate (nitrate-rich beetroot juice, \~750 mg NO3- /d) intervention.

Testing a Novel Instagram Intervention for Heavy Alcohol Use

This project aims to test the efficacy of an Instagram-based intervention for reducing heavy alcohol use. More specifically, the investigators will use a randomized controlled design to analyze differences in alcohol use and alcohol-related outcomes (e.g., alcohol-related consequences, etc.) as well as differences in the use of protective behavioral strategies and mindfulness practices. Participants (80 Prolific users who report binge drinking) will be randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: intervention or control. Those who are randomized to the intervention condition will be invited to follow study Instagram pages, and those who are randomized to the control condition will be invited to complete the assessments only. The investigators hypothesize that there will be greater reductions in alcohol use, frequency, and consequences and greater frequency of use of mindfulness exercises and protective behavioral strategies among those in the intervention condition as compared to those in the control condition.