ALCOHOL USE DISORDER

This study tested two smartphone-based programs to help people reduce risky drinking and its effects on their families after COVID-19. About 400 pairs of drinkers and a family member each used either a standard app, a drinker-focused app, or a family-focused app. The goal was to …

This study tested a non-invasive brain stimulation method called rTMS to help veterans with alcohol use disorder stay sober. 49 veterans received either real or fake (sham) rTMS, and researchers tracked their alcohol use for 6 months. The goal was to see if rTMS could reduce rela…

This study tested whether giving small rewards for attending treatment and providing negative alcohol tests helps people with alcohol use disorder stay sober. 74 adults in outpatient treatment took part. Researchers used a blood test to check alcohol use every 3 weeks. The goal w…

This study tested a short, motivational counseling session for injured patients who drink alcohol, delivered in the emergency department in Tanzania. Over 600 adults took part, and the goal was to see if the intervention could reduce binge drinking and related harms. The approach…

This study tested whether a broccoli sprout extract supplement could improve gut health in 40 older adults (age 50+) who drink at least 8 alcoholic drinks per week and have a low-quality diet. The goal was to see if the supplement could reduce gut leakage and inflammation caused …

This study tested a 4-week virtual intensive outpatient program for people with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder. The program included group therapy and daily breathalyzer checks done from home. Researchers wanted to see if people would stay in the program and be satisfied…

This study tested a smartphone app called Quit Genius, combined with a medication (naltrexone), to help adults with alcohol use disorder drink less. About 242 people took part, using the app for 6 months while also taking the medication. The goal was to see if this digital approa…

This study tested an experimental drug called sunobinop to see if it could help people with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder drink less. About 209 adults who wanted treatment for their drinking took either the drug or a placebo. The main goal was to see if the drug reduced…

This study tested a program for 160 HIV-positive fisherfolk in Uganda who were heavy drinkers and struggling to stick with their HIV medication. The program combined individual and group counseling with help opening savings accounts and building social support. The goal was to re…

This study tested a smartphone-based program that uses rewards, coaching, and breathalyzer tests to help 236 adults with alcohol use disorder reduce drinking. Participants earned money for staying sober, tracked via breath tests and self-reports. The goal was to see if this digit…

This study tested a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called TMS to see if it could help people with alcohol use disorder reduce their drinking. 147 adults who wanted treatment for their alcohol use received TMS and were tracked for 4 months. The goal was to find out which…

This study tested whether a single high dose of psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) combined with psychological support could help people with alcohol use disorder drink less. 60 adults in Denmark who were heavy drinkers took part. The main goal was to see if th…

This study tested whether kudzu, an herbal supplement, can help people who binge drink reduce their alcohol use and related risky sexual behaviors. Researchers enrolled 120 sexually active adults who binge drink and are at high risk for HIV. Participants received either kudzu or …

This study tested a medication called GET73 in 79 adults with moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder who were not seeking treatment. Participants took GET73 or a placebo for 8 days and had MRI scans to measure brain chemistry and activity when shown alcohol-related images. The g…

This study tested whether a daily pill called semaglutide (Rybelsus), already used for diabetes, can help people with alcohol use disorder drink less. Fifty adults who wanted to cut back took either the drug or a placebo for 8 weeks. Researchers measured changes in alcohol cravin…

This study tested a smartphone app designed to help people recovering from alcohol dependence avoid relapse. The app uses a game-like training to change unconscious cravings for alcohol. Researchers enrolled 600 adults leaving inpatient rehab or in self-help groups to see if regu…

This study tested a program called "Choizitaconso" that teaches people with alcohol use disorder how to control their drinking and reduce harm. About 110 adults took part, learning skills to manage their alcohol use and avoid negative consequences. The goal was to see if the prog…

This study tested a short, 11-session therapy program for adults in residential treatment for drug or alcohol problems. The therapy combined techniques from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people handle difficult emotions and reduce crav…

This study tested a technique called Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) in 154 adults with alcohol use disorder who wanted to cut down. Participants imagined positive future events in detail, which helped them focus on long-term rewards instead of immediate drinking. The goal was to …

This study tested whether cytisine, a plant-based medication, is safe and helpful for quitting smoking in people who also have alcohol use disorder. Twenty adults who smoked daily and wanted to quit took part. The main goal was to see if the drug was well-tolerated and if partici…

This study tested whether a single infusion of donor stem cells is safe for people struggling with both alcohol use disorder and major depression. Researchers measured side effects and changes in inflammation markers. The trial involved 31 adults and compared the stem cell treatm…

This study tested a therapy called Behavioral Activation for U.S. veterans who have both alcohol use disorder and PTSD. Ten veterans took part and were randomly assigned to either Behavioral Activation or standard Relapse Prevention therapy for 8 sessions. The goal was to see if …

This study tested two types of therapy for insomnia in 134 people also being treated for alcohol use disorder. The goal was to see if improving sleep could also help them stay away from alcohol. Participants had both insomnia and alcohol use disorder, and the therapies were deliv…

This early-stage study tested a new drug called DCR-AUD in 16 healthy adults who drink alcohol socially. The main goal was to see if repeat doses are safe and how the drug works in the body. Participants received either the drug or a placebo and had up to 10 alcohol interaction s…

This study tested whether an online program for insomnia (called SHUTi) could help heavy drinkers reduce their alcohol use. 113 adults who drank heavily and had trouble sleeping took part. The goal was to see if improving sleep would also lead to less drinking and fewer binge epi…

This study looked at how negative emotions and stress influence alcohol use in 81 women veterans, including those with PTSD. Researchers measured cravings, heart rate, and drinking patterns, and also examined how these effects change across the menstrual cycle. The goal was to be…

This study looked at whether a substance called endotoxin, which comes from certain bacteria, can increase alcohol consumption in people with alcohol use disorder. Researchers gave 27 adults either endotoxin or a placebo and measured how much alcohol they drank during a 120-minut…

This study tested a smartphone app called CampusGANDR that uses a game about college life to give students personalized feedback on their drinking habits. Over 1,100 first-year college students in California and Texas played the game for 12 weeks. Researchers measured changes in …

This study tested whether a gentle brain stimulation technique called tDCS could make cognitive training more effective for veterans with alcohol use disorder. Forty-five veterans participated, receiving either real or fake tDCS while doing brain exercises. The goal was to see if…

This study looked at how thinking about money problems changes the way people value alcohol and make decisions. 124 heavy drinkers completed tasks after reading either a story about financial scarcity or a neutral story. Researchers measured how quickly they discounted future rew…

This study looked at 488 adults with alcohol use disorder who had suicidal thoughts or attempts. Researchers wanted to understand why some people call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline during a crisis and others don't. They also tested if a therapy session about the hotlin…

This study tested whether an 8-week cognitive training program, delivered via video call, is practical and well-liked by veterans recovering from alcohol use disorder who have mild memory or thinking problems. Nineteen veterans took part. The goal was to see if the program is eas…

This study looked at 34 people who came to the emergency department with alcohol intoxication. Researchers asked them to estimate their own blood alcohol concentration and then compared it to a real breath or blood test. The goal was to see if people tend to underestimate their l…

This study tested whether personalized, vivid future-thinking cues can help people with alcohol use disorder choose long-term rewards over immediate ones. 58 adults in early recovery (abstinent 30 days to 1 year) viewed either high-intensity or low-intensity future scenarios. Res…

This study tested whether a coaching program called practice facilitation helps VA primary care doctors provide better care for veterans with unhealthy alcohol use. Researchers worked with 42 veterans and their doctors at one VA clinic to see if doctors would offer more counselin…

This pilot study looked at whether a single dose of methylphenidate (Ritalin) changes how young adults with both ADHD and alcohol use disorder respond to pictures of alcohol. Researchers used brain scans and tests to measure cravings and attention. The goal was to understand the …

This study tested a mobile app called WisePath designed to help adults who are thinking about suicide and may also misuse alcohol. Over 12 weeks, 127 participants either used the WisePath app or received standard self-help resources. Researchers measured changes in suicidal thoug…

This study looked at whether community health workers visiting pregnant women at home in rural South Africa could improve health for both mothers and children. About 1,490 women took part, with some areas getting the home-visit program and others not. The program aimed to help wi…

This study looked at how people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) organize words and ideas in their memory compared to healthy individuals. Researchers tested 41 participants using word association tasks and brain function tests. The goal was to see if changes in these mental netwo…

This study looked at how the brain reacts when heavy drinkers see pictures of alcohol versus non-alcoholic drinks. Using brain scans (fMRI), researchers measured how much people wanted to drink at different prices. The goal was to understand why some people have trouble controlli…

This study looked at how thinking abilities (like planning and self-control) and social skills (like understanding others' emotions) are connected in people with alcohol use disorder. Researchers tested 216 participants using tasks and eye-tracking to find patterns that might hel…

This study looked at two short tests (MoCA and BEARNI) that check for thinking and memory problems in people with alcohol use disorder. Researchers compared how well each test finds real issues by checking them against a full set of detailed brain tests. The goal was to see which…

This study looked at how alcohol affects the brain and feelings of intoxication in 60 young adults (ages 21-26), half with bipolar disorder and half without. Participants drank alcohol or a placebo during brain scans and reported how they felt. The goal was to understand why peop…

This study looked at how drinking alcohol and using high-THC cannabis concentrates together affects people. 146 heavy drinkers who also use cannabis regularly took part. Researchers measured things like blood alcohol level, heart rate, and how impaired they felt, depending on whe…