ALCOHOL USE DISORDER

This study tested two smartphone-based programs to help people reduce risky drinking and improve family relationships after the COVID-19 pandemic. About 400 pairs of drinkers and their family members joined. One app focused on the drinker alone, while the other involved the whole…

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

This study tested whether a single high dose of psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms), given with psychological support, could help people with alcohol use disorder reduce their heavy drinking. 60 adults in Denmark participated. The main goal was to see if the tre…

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

This study tested whether a broccoli sprout extract supplement could improve gut health in 40 older adults (age 50+) who regularly drink alcohol and have low-quality diets. The goal was to see if the extract could reduce gut leakage and inflammation, which are linked to diseases …

This study tested a brief, culturally adapted counseling session called 'Reduce Alcohol for Your Health' in 674 injured adults at a Tanzanian emergency department. The goal was to see if a single motivational interview could reduce binge drinking and alcohol-related problems. The…

This study tested whether 24 sessions of a brain-training technique called neurofeedback could help 17 adults with alcohol use disorder feel more confident in staying sober and become more mindful. The experimental group received the training over 8 weeks, while a control group d…

This study tested two types of brain stimulation (called TMS) to see if they could help people with alcohol use disorder drink less. 147 adults who wanted to cut back on drinking received TMS and were tracked for 4 months. The goal was to find out which TMS method worked better a…

This study tested whether giving small rewards for attending treatment and providing alcohol-free blood tests helps people with alcohol use disorder stay sober. 74 adults in outpatient treatment were randomly assigned to standard care or added rewards. Researchers tracked alcohol…

This study tested a smartphone program called Quit Genius for alcohol use disorder (QG-A) that combines digital cognitive-behavioral therapy with medication. 242 adults with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder were randomly assigned to either the QG-A program or standard care…

This study tested a 4-week virtual intensive outpatient program for 63 adults with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder. The program included group therapy and daily breathalyzer checks, all done from home. Researchers measured how many people stayed in the program and how sat…

This study tested whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could help veterans with alcohol use disorder stay sober for 6 months. 49 veterans who were already in treatment for alcohol problems received either re…

This early-phase study tested whether a single infusion of donor stem cells is safe for people struggling with both alcohol use disorder and major depression. 31 adults received either stem cells or a placebo, and researchers monitored for serious side effects like suicidal thoug…

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 cues. The goa…

This study tested a smartphone app and special debit card program to help 236 adults with alcohol use disorder reduce drinking. The program used rewards for staying sober, coaching, and therapy. The goal was to see if this technology-based approach could help people achieve and m…

This study tested whether kudzu, an herbal supplement, can help people who binge drink reduce their alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors. 120 adults who reported heavy drinking and were at high risk for HIV took part. The goal was to see if kudzu could lower the number of binge…

This study tested whether adding a prescription sleep medication (lemborexant) to a standard alcohol use disorder drug (naltrexone) could help reduce alcohol cravings and improve sleep. It involved 8 adults with both alcohol use disorder and insomnia. Researchers compared the com…

This study tested whether semaglutide (the medication in Ozempic and Wegovy) could safely help people with alcohol use disorder drink less. 80 participants received either the real medication or a placebo injection weekly for 12 weeks. Researchers measured changes in drinking hab…

This study compared two short screening tests (MoCA and BEARNI) to see which one better detects thinking and memory problems in people with alcohol use disorder. Researchers tested 90 patients and checked the results against a full set of detailed brain tests. The goal was to fin…

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 took part. The goal was to see if playing the game could corre…

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 aimed to help them focus on long-term rewards over immediate drinking. The study measu…

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 had alcohol problems took cytisine and were monitored for side effects and smoking abstinence. T…

This study tested whether an online insomnia treatment (SHUTi) could help heavy drinkers sleep better and drink less. 113 adults who drank heavily and had insomnia took part. The program taught them healthy sleep habits online. Results suggest improving sleep may reduce alcohol u…

This study tested a 5-week behavioral program for women who experienced sexual assault within the past 6 weeks and also drink alcohol. The program aimed to reduce both post-traumatic stress symptoms and alcohol use. Participants completed surveys and some used a smartphone app fo…

This study tested a program called "Choizitaconso" that teaches people with alcohol use disorder skills to control their drinking and reduce alcohol-related harms. About 110 adults took part, learning in group sessions and being followed for 6 months. The goal was to see if the p…

This early-stage study tested the safety and tolerability of multiple doses of DCR-AUD in 16 healthy adults who are social drinkers. Participants received either the drug or a placebo and were monitored for 24 weeks, including up to 10 alcohol interaction tests. The goal was to s…

This study compared two types of talk therapy—Behavioral Activation and Relapse Prevention—in 10 U.S. veterans with both alcohol use disorder and PTSD. The goal was to see if Behavioral Activation could help reduce drinking and PTSD symptoms. Participants completed surveys and in…

This study tested two types of therapy for insomnia in 134 people who were also being treated for alcohol use disorder. The goal was to see if improving sleep could also help reduce drinking. Participants received either a standard insomnia treatment or a therapy that also focuse…

This study tested a mobile app called WisePath designed to help adults struggling with suicidal thoughts and alcohol misuse. 127 participants used either WisePath or a control app for 12 weeks. The goal was to see if the app could reduce suicidal thoughts and drinking while peopl…

This study tested a short, 11-session therapy program for adults in residential rehab for drug or alcohol problems. The therapy combined techniques to improve emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and psychological flexibility. 36 participants were split into two groups: one re…

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 reactions change across the menstrual cycle. The goal was to …

This study looked at how combining alcohol with high-THC cannabis concentrates affects intoxication. 146 heavy drinkers who also use cannabis regularly took part. Researchers measured things like blood alcohol level, heart rate, and cognitive performance to see if the order of us…

This study looked at whether a single dose of methylphenidate (Ritalin) changes how people with both ADHD and alcohol use disorder respond to pictures of alcohol. 31 young adults aged 18-25 took part in brain scans, EEG, and behavioral tests after receiving either the drug or a p…

This early-phase study tested whether suvorexant, a sleep medication, could change how the brain and body respond to stress in people with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder. 81 adults took either suvorexant or a placebo nightly for 4 weeks, while researchers measured their …

This study tested whether a gentle brain stimulation technique called tDCS, combined with cognitive training, could improve brain function and reduce drinking in 45 veterans with alcohol use disorder. Participants received either real or fake tDCS during cognitive exercises over …

This study looked at whether personalized, vivid future-thinking cues can help people in early recovery from alcohol use disorder choose long-term rewards over immediate ones. Fifty-eight participants who had been abstinent for 30 days to 1 year were split into high-intensity and…

This study looked at how people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) connect words in their minds 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 word networks mig…

This study looked at how heavy drinkers' brains respond when thinking about buying alcohol after seeing pictures of drinks versus non-alcoholic beverages. 72 non-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers had their brains scanned while making hypothetical drink purchase decisions. The goal…

This study looked at how a drug called tolcapone affects people who have both alcohol use disorder and ADHD. Researchers measured how the drug changed their response to alcohol, decision-making, and brain activity. The goal was to learn more about the connection between these con…

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 lifeli…

This study looked at how alcohol changes brain activity and feelings in young adults with bipolar disorder compared to healthy people. Sixty participants aged 21-26 completed brain scans and surveys after drinking alcohol or a placebo. The goal was to understand why people with b…

This study looked at how thinking about money problems affects people with alcohol use disorder. 124 adults who wanted to cut down on drinking completed tasks and surveys after reading either a story about financial scarcity or a neutral story. Researchers measured how quickly th…

This study looked at how thinking skills (like flexibility and self-control) and social understanding (like reading emotions) are linked to alcohol use disorders. Researchers tested 216 people to find early warning signs that could help improve treatment. The goal was to better u…

This study looked at whether community health workers visiting pregnant women at home in rural South Africa can 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 with…

This study looked at 34 people who came to the emergency department with alcohol intoxication. Researchers asked them to guess their blood alcohol concentration and then compared it to a real test. The goal was to see if people underestimate their level and if this could help the…

This study used powerful brain scans to look at how two brain networks—one for controlling impulses and one for reacting to alcohol cues—interact in people with alcohol use disorder. Researchers studied 59 participants to see if this brain connection relates to cravings and treat…

This study tested whether an 8-week cognitive training program delivered via telehealth is practical and well-liked by veterans recovering from alcohol use disorder. Nineteen veterans with mild memory or thinking concerns took part. The goal was to see if the program was easy to …

This study looked at whether a bacterial substance called endotoxin increases drinking in people with alcohol use disorder. 27 adults took part in a lab session where they could drink alcohol after receiving either endotoxin or a placebo. The goal was to see if endotoxin changes …