Gut bacteria may help tame alcohol cravings, new study suggests

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

Inclusion Criteria (AUD patients): * Hospitalized patients diagnosed with untreated alcohol use disorder (confirmed by the diagnostic criteria of DSM-5). * Male, age 18 to 55 years old, Han nationality, junior high school education or above, right-handed. * Those with normal eyesight, including corrected vision(screened clinically). Exclusion Criteria (AUD patients): * The patient suffer from other mental illnesses (screen by DSM-V criteria). * The patient has allergy reaction to medications use for conventional treatment of alcohol use disorder. * The patient had a history of organic brain disease, a pacemaker, gastrointestinal surgery, or serious health problems. * The patient had a history of seizures. * The patient is complicated with severe physical disease. * Patient has other drug dependence (except for nicotine dependence). * The patient took drugs affecting intestinal flora 30 days before and during admission. * The patient has participated in any other alcohol-related studies or trials within the past 30 days. * Patients had use any prescription or over-the-counter drugs in the past 30 days that may affect mood or alcohol cravings. Inclusion Criteria (controls): * Male, age 18 to 55 years old, Han nationality, junior high school education or above, right-handed. * No history of psychoactive substance abuse, except tobacco (screen with urine dipstick test). * Those with normal eyesight, including corrected vision (screen clinically). * No alcoholic beverages in the last 2 weeks. * According to the WHO healthy alcohol consumption standard, the average intake of pure alcohol per week is less than 210 grams, or do not drink at all (screen clinically). Exclusion Criteria (controls): * Those who suffer from other mental illnesses (screen by DSM-V criteria). * Those who has history of organic brain disease, a pacemaker, gastrointestinal surgery, or serious health problems. * Those who has history of seizures. * Those complicated with severe physical disease. * Those with drug dependence, including alcohol dependence (exception for nicotine dependence). * Those who took drugs affecting intestinal flora 30 days before and during admission. * Those who has participated in any other alcohol-related studies or trials within the past 30 days. * Those who use any prescription or over-the-counter drugs in the past 30 days that may affect mood or alcohol cravings.