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Think ahead, drink less: new study tests Future-Thinking as alcohol fix

NCT ID NCT04125238

Disease control Sponsor: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether a technique called Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) — where people vividly imagine positive events in their future — could help reduce drinking in 154 adults with alcohol use disorder. Participants either practiced EFT or recalled past events (control), then researchers measured their cravings, alcohol choices, and brain activity. The goal was to see if EFT could help people focus on long-term rewards over immediate drinking urges.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Episodic Future Thinking (a behavioral technique where participants imagine vivid positive future events)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a simple, drug-free way to help people with alcohol use disorder cut down on drinking by improving their ability to think about future consequences.
What could go wrong
This is an early, small study (154 people) testing a behavioral technique in a lab setting, not a real-world treatment. Results may not translate to lasting changes in drinking habits.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

154 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Nov 2020

Finished

Sep 2024

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

21 to 65 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * High-risk or harmful drinking (measured by AUDIT) * 21-65 years of age * Desire to quit or cut down on their drinking, but do not have proximate plans to enroll in treatment for AUD during the study period * Report as one of their top three preferred drinks a beverage appropriate for the alcohol self-administration task (Study 1) Exclusion Criteria: * Moderate to severe DSM-5 criteria for substance-use disorders other than alcohol, nicotine, and/or marijuana * Current diagnosis of any psychotic disorder * History of seizure disorders or traumatic brain injury * Contraindication for participation in the self-administration (Study 1) or MRI sessions (Studies 1 and 2) * Current pregnancy or lactation.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

alcohol abuse

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Alcohol use disorder

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

    Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.