ALCOHOL USE DISORDER

This study tested whether kudzu, an herbal supplement, can reduce heavy drinking and related risky sexual behaviors. 120 adults who binge drink and are at high risk for HIV took either kudzu or a placebo for several weeks. Researchers tracked their drinking days and urine tests t…

This early study tested a smartphone app that gives rewards to people with alcohol use disorder when they prove they haven't been drinking. Twelve adults used the app for a few weeks, submitting breath samples three times a day. The goal was to see if the app was easy to use and …

This early-phase study tested a single dose of an investigational nasal spray (BPL-003) combined with psychological support in 13 adults with moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder. The main goals were to check safety and to see if the treatment could reduce heavy drinking days.…

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

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

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 two smartphone apps to reduce risky drinking during COVID-19. One app focused on the drinker, the other involved a family partner. 398 pairs (a drinker and a family member) used the apps for 8 months, with follow-up at 12 months. The goal was to see if family in…

This study tested whether a type of brain training called neurofeedback can help people with alcohol use disorder feel more confident in staying sober and become more mindful. Seventeen adults took part: some did 24 sessions of neurofeedback over 8 weeks, while others did nothing…

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

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 a smartphone app and special debit card program to help 236 adults with alcohol use disorder reduce or stop drinking. The program used rewards for staying sober, along with coaching and therapy. Participants used a breathalyzer and saliva tests to confirm they w…

This study tested whether giving rewards for attending treatment and providing alcohol-free blood tests helps people with alcohol use disorder stay sober. 74 adults in outpatient treatment took part. Researchers used a blood test that detects heavy drinking over the past 3 weeks …

This study tested a smartphone-based program that combines cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with medication (naltrexone) to help adults with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder. About 242 participants were randomly assigned to either the digital program or standard care. Th…

This study tested a smartphone app called CampusGANDR that delivers personalized feedback about drinking habits through a game about college life. Over 1,100 first-year students from California and Texas played the game for 12 weeks. The goal was to see if the game could correct …

This study tested whether semaglutide, a drug used for diabetes and weight loss, could safely help people with alcohol use disorder drink less. 80 adults took either semaglutide or a placebo, and researchers tracked their drinking over several weeks. The goal was to see if the dr…

This study tested a short, motivational interview-based program called 'Reduce Alcohol for Your Health' for injured patients in a Tanzanian emergency department. 674 adults who had been drinking before their injury took part. The goal was to see if this brief chat could help them…

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 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 looked at two simple tests (MoCA and BEARNI) to see which one is better at finding thinking and memory problems in people with alcohol use disorder. Researchers tested 90 patients and compared the results to a full set of detailed brain tests. The goal was to find out …

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 usin…

This study looked at whether adding a sleep medication (lemborexant) to a standard alcohol craving medicine (naltrexone) helps reduce cravings and improve sleep in people with alcohol use disorder and insomnia. Eight adults from a treatment center took part. The goal was to see i…

This study tested a short therapy program for adults in residential rehab for substance use. The therapy combined techniques to improve emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and psychological flexibility. 36 participants were split into two groups: one received the therapy plus…

This study tested whether an online insomnia treatment (SHUTi) could help heavy drinkers reduce alcohol use and improve sleep. 113 adults who binge drink weekly and have insomnia took part. The goal was to see if better sleep leads to less drinking, potentially preventing alcohol…

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 behavioral sleep treatment or a control therapy, and rese…

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

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 in France took part, and researchers measured harms and quality of life before and after the progra…

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 cytisine for a short time. Researchers tracked side effects and how many peo…

This study tested a 5-week behavioral program for women who experienced sexual assault and drink alcohol. The program aimed to reduce both stress symptoms and alcohol use. Participants completed surveys and daily smartphone check-ins. The goal was to see if early help could impro…

This study tested a type of 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 this therapy or a standard relapse prevention program. The goal was to see if the new approa…

This 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. Using brain scans and tests, researchers measured cravings and attention. The goal was to understand the link b…

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. Researchers measured changes in suicidal thoughts, coping skills, and alcohol use to s…

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

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, including those with alcohol problems and healthy volunteers, using tasks and eye-trac…

This study looked at how thinking about money problems changes the way heavy drinkers value alcohol and make decisions. 124 adults who wanted to cut back on drinking completed tasks measuring impulsivity and alcohol cravings after reading either a story about financial scarcity o…

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

This study looked at how alcohol changes the brain and feelings in 60 young adults (21-26 years old), 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 people with bip…

This study used powerful 7 Tesla MRI scanners to look at brain activity in 59 people with alcohol use disorder who had been sober for at least 4 weeks. Researchers wanted to understand how the brain's control and craving networks interact. The goal was to see if a stronger imbala…

This study looked at whether a substance called endotoxin, which is a toxin from certain bacteria, can increase alcohol consumption in people with alcohol use disorder. Twenty-seven adults who met criteria for alcohol use disorder took part. Researchers measured how much alcohol …

This study looked at how people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) connect words 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 word networks co…

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. Researchers tracked things l…

This study looked at how negative emotions and stress influence alcohol cravings and drinking behavior in women veterans, including those with PTSD. Researchers also examined whether emotion regulation techniques and menstrual cycle hormones change these effects. The goal was to …

This study looked at what happens when people drink alcohol and use high-THC cannabis concentrates together. 146 heavy drinkers and regular cannabis users took part in a mobile lab session. Researchers measured blood alcohol, heart rate, and drug effects to see if the order of us…

This study tested whether a coaching program called practice facilitation helps primary care doctors at one VA clinic provide better care for veterans with unhealthy alcohol use. The program aimed to increase brief counseling, medications, and referrals to specialty treatment. 42…

This study tested whether imagining positive future events can help people in early recovery from alcohol use disorder make better choices and feel more motivated to seek treatment. 58 adults who had been sober for 30 days to 1 year took part. Researchers compared high-intensity …

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 and then had their brain activity, alcohol cravings, and drinking measured. The goal was to see if EFT …

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 who have mild memory or thinking problems. Nineteen veterans took part, and the main goal was to see if the program…

This study looked at 34 people who came to the emergency room with alcohol intoxication. Researchers compared how drunk patients thought they were (self-estimated blood alcohol level) with an actual breath or blood test. The goal was to see if showing patients the difference coul…

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 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…