Alcohol Use DisorderRP1ANCT04125238
Increasing the Temporal Window in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder
A study testing Episodic Future Thinking in people with Alcohol Use Disorder, run by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Episodic future thinking (EFT) is based on the new science of prospection, which was first identified in a Science publication in 2007 and refers to pre-experiencing the future by simulation. Considerable evidence suggests that prospection is important for understanding human cognition, affect, motivation, and action. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Alcohol Use Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Episodic Future Thinking
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 154 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 13 Nov 2020to 30 Sep 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 21 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 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)
Who cannot join
- 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.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Roanoke, Virginia, 24016
About this study
Official title: Reinforcer Pathology 1A: Increasing the Temporal Window
Episodic future thinking (EFT) is based on the new science of prospection, which was first identified in a Science publication in 2007 and refers to pre-experiencing the future by simulation. Considerable evidence suggests that prospection is important for understanding human cognition, affect, motivation, and action. Individuals with damaged frontal areas, as well as individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD), show deficits in planning prospectively. One systematic method to engender prospection is via EFT. EFT, as applied in our prior studies and in this proposal consists of having participants develop positive plausible future events that correspond to several future time frames (e.g., 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months etc). For each of these timeframes participants are asked to concretize the events (e.g., What are you doing? Who will be there? What will you see, hear, smell, and feel?). We and others have used EFT to decrease delay discounting (DD) in individuals with AUD and smokers, as well as normal weight, overweight, and obese populations when compared to the control condition, control episodic thinking (CET). Consistent with reinforcer pathology, EFT also reduces alcohol valuation in the purchase task among individuals with AUD. However, no study to date has examined whether EFT reduces alcohol self-administration in the laboratory. Moreover, the neural correlates of EFT in AUD are also unknown. In these studies, we propose to test an intervention, EFT, which we hypothesize will decrease reinforcer pathology measures in a bar-like setting in the laboratory; that is, EFT will decrease delay discounting, as well as alcohol self-administration, demand, and craving compared to a control episodic thinking (CET) condition. Moreover, we hypothesize EFT will enhance activation in brain regions associated with prospection (e.g., hippocampus and amygdala) and the executive decision system (e.g., DLPFC). We will also examine the effect of EFT on real-world drinking.
Read the detailed description
In study 1, participants will be randomly assigned to experimental or control groups, stratified by AUDIT scores, SES, age and sex. Based on our 8 years of experience recruiting this population, we expect approximately 66% retention among eligible participants. Therefore, we will enroll approximately 107 participants in order to conclude with 64 completers. Participants will complete: a baseline assessment (S1), an alcohol self-administration session (S2 or S3), an fMRI session (S2 or S3). The alcohol self-administration session and the fMRI session will be completed in counterbalanced order. At the beginning of S2 and S3, participants in both groups will be prompted to generate positive events and related cues through a researcher-administered interview-based questionnaire. EFT group participants will be asked to think about and describe the most positive event that could realistically happen at each of 7 delays in the future (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 5 years, and 25 years). In contrast, participants randomized to the CET condition, will be asked to think about and describe the most positive event that occurred at each of 7 time points from the recent past (last night from 7pm-10pm, yesterday between 4pm-7pm, yesterday between 1pm-4pm, yesterday from 10am-12pm, yesterday between 7am-10am, the night before last between 7pm-10pm, and evening before last between 4pm-7pm). For each time point, the participant will be asked to integrate the event and sensory information into concise textual and/or auditory cues to be used in subsequent behavioral tasks. Cue generation will occur prior to both self administration and fMRI sessions (S2 and S3) to maximize the relevancy of cues at both sessions.
In study 2, participants will complete two sessions and undergo a one-week baseline monitoring phase where they provide breath samples to assess for recent alcohol use and report their drinks per day. Following this baseline period, participants will complete an fMRI then be randomized to either the EFT or Control group. Participants will then complete two weeks of monitoring, where they provide a breath sample three times a day and report the number of drinks they consumed. Participants will then come back to the lab to generate new EFT/CET cues, then complete two more weeks of monitoring. After conclusion of the second intervention period, participants will complete a post intervention session and then a one month follow up one month after study completion.
- Conditions
- Alcohol Use Disorder
- Being tested
- Episodic Future Thinking, Control Episodic Thinking
- Keywords
- Delay Discounting, Behavioral Economic Demand, Episodic Future Thinking, Self-Administration, Functional MRI, Alcohol Craving
- Medical subject headings
- Alcoholism
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Episodic Future ThinkingBehavioural
Also called EFT
Participants will generate descriptions of vivid positive future events.
Control Episodic ThinkingBehavioural
Also called CET
Participants will generate descriptions of vivid positive recent past events.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) | Experimental | Participants will generate positive future events they are looking forward to at five time points in the future (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 5 years, and 25 years). Participants will be reminded of these events using cues throughout the study and instructed to think about these cues as they make their decisions. Receives: Behavioral: Episodic Future Thinking |
| Control Episodic Thinking (CET) | Sham comparator | Participants will generate positive recent past events that have happened to them at five time points in the recent past (last night from 7pm-10pm, yesterday between 4pm-7pm, yesterday between 1pm-4pm, yesterday from 10am-12pm, yesterday between 7am-10am, the night before last between 7pm-10pm, and evening before last between 4pm-7pm). Participants will be reminded of these events using cues throughout the study and instructed to think about these cues as they make their decisions. Receives: Behavioral: Control Episodic Thinking |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Delay Discounting (DD) Rates (Studies 1 and 2)
DD rates were measured using an adjusting amount task where participants were presented with hypothetical choices between smaller immediate or larger later amounts of money after a range of delays (1 day-25 years). Individual indifference points were calculated for each delay and then used to estimate DD rates for each participant using Mazur's (1987) equation: V = A/(1+kD), where V is the value of the indifference point, A is the amount of the larger delayed reward, k is the discounting rate, and D is the delay. Discounting rates (k) were then natural-logarithmically transformed (ln(k)). Higher ln(k) indicates steeper discounting and greater reward devaluation with increases in delay, while a lower ln(k) reflects shallower discounting and less reward devaluation with increases in delay.
Change in ln(k) will be compared within-subjects between S1 and S2, AND between S1 and S3.
Measured: Pre-intervention (S1; baseline measures; Day 1), Post 1st cue generation: S2 (occurs up to 7 days post S1 in Study 1 and 2-3 weeks post S1 in Study 2), and Post 2nd cue generation: S3 (occurs up to 7 days post S2 in Study 1 and 2 weeks post S2 in Study 2)
Intensity of Alcohol Demand (Study 2)
Participants completed a hypothetical Alcohol Purchase Task in which they indicated how many drinks they would purchase at different prices ($0 to $80 per drink). The number of drinks purchased at $0 was used to calculate the intensity of demand. Changes in intensity of alcohol demand were compared within-subjects between S1 and S2, AND between S1 and S3.
Measured: Pre-intervention (S1; baseline measure; Day 1), Post 1st cue generation, (S2; approximately 2 weeks post S1), and Post 2nd cue generation (S3; approximately 2 weeks post S2 and 4 weeks post S1)
In-Laboratory Alcohol Consumption (Study 1)
The number of alcoholic beverages purchased/consumed during the self-administration session will be recorded. The average number of drinks consumed will be compared between groups.
Measured: Self-Administration session will occur at either Session 2 or Session 3 based on counterbalance assignment. S2 occurs up to 7 days post S1 and S3 occurs up to 7 days post S2.
fMRI Hyper-connectivity Decrease During Delay Discounting (Study 1)
Measured using fMRI during delay discounting task. Whole-brain PPI analysis of right DLPFC between EFT and CET participants. We examined the number of participants whose Right DLPFC was negatively correlated with their Left DLPFC after the intervention. We hypothesize that AUD leads to hyperconnectivity (positive correlations) between these two regions as a compensatory decision-making mechanism, and that EFT should reduce or reverse this connectivity relationship
Measured: fMRI session occurred at either Session 2 or Session 3 based on counterbalance assignment. S2 occurred up to 7 days post S1 and S3 occurred up to 7 days post S2.
fMRI Hyper-connectivity Decrease During Alcohol Purchase Task (Study 1)
Measured using fMRI during the alcohol purchase task. Whole-brain PPI analysis of right DLPFC between EFT and CET participants. We examined the number of participants whose Right DLPFC was negatively correlated with their Left DLPFC after the intervention. We hypothesize that AUD leads to hyperconnectivity (positive correlations) between these two regions as a compensatory decision-making mechanism, and that EFT should reduce or reverse this connectivity relationship
Measured: fMRI session occurred at either Session 2 or Session 3 based on counterbalance assignment. S2 occurred up to 7 days post S1 and S3 occurred up to 7 days post S2.
Change in Alcoholic Drinks Per Day (Study 2)
Participants self-reported the number of drinks consumed per day via a mobile app during the first five weeks of the study. The first week measured baseline drinking (Pre-intervention), weeks 2-3 measured drinking after the first cue generation (Post 1st cue generation), and weeks 4-5 measured drinking after the second cue generation (Post 2nd cue generation) The number of drinks per day was compared within-subjects and between groups (EFT and CET).
Measured: Daily during Pre-intervention (week 1); Post 1st cue generation (weeks 2-3); and Post 2nd cue generation (weeks 4-5).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Oct 2019
- Study start13 Nov 2020
- Primary completion28 Aug 2024
- Study completion30 Sep 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Alcohol Use DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 154 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), McMaster University, Arizona State University, Carilion Clinic, University of Kentucky
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Stephen M LaConte, PhD, Principal investigator, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04125238
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RP1A / 20-015 / 22-358
- Other IDs
- R01AA027381-01A1
- Acronym
- RP1A
- Status last verified
- Jan 2025
- First submitted
- 9 Oct 2019
- Last updated
- 23 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Investigators will adhere to all NIH requirements regarding data sharing. Participant data collected in this project will be de-identified and made available on a shared secured data repository. We will also share the analysis results. As part of this process, all investigators will be required to agree to the following conditions: 1) will adhere to the reporting responsibilities; 2) will not redistribute the data beyond the requesting individual and named collaborators; 3) will give appropriate acknowledgement; 4) will not use the data for commercial purposes; and 5) will obtain appropriate ethical approvals. Results from research conducted will be shared and disseminated, including: regular project meetings, annual meetings, symposia, workshops, and/or conferences for related groups. Manuscripts will be written and submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals/conferences, following the NIH Public Access Policy guidelines. All necessary ethical approvals will be obtained.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Reinforcer Pathology 1A: Increasing the Temporal Window
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04125238
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RP1A / RP1A / 20-015 / 22-358
- Conditions
- Alcohol Use Disorder
- Keywords
- Delay Discounting, Behavioral Economic Demand, Episodic Future Thinking, Self-Administration, Functional MRI, Alcohol Craving
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 154 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), McMaster University, Arizona State University, Carilion Clinic, University of Kentucky
- Study start
- 13 Nov 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Oct 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 23 Jan 2026
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Episodic future thinking (EFT) is based on the new science of prospection, which was first identified in a Science publication in 2007 and refers to pre-experiencing the future by simulation. Considerable evidence suggests that prospection is important for understanding human cognition, affect, motivation, and action. Individuals with damaged frontal areas, as well as individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD), show deficits in planning prospectively. One systematic method to engender prospection is via EFT. EFT, as applied in our prior studies and in this proposal consists of having participants develop positive plausible future events that correspond to several future time frames (e.g., 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months etc). For each of these timeframes participants are asked to concretize the events (e.g., What are you doing? Who will be there? What will you see, hear, smell, and feel?). We and others have used EFT to decrease delay discounting (DD) in individuals with AUD and smokers, as well as normal weight, overweight, and obese populations when compared to the control condition, control episodic thinking (CET). Consistent with reinforcer pathology, EFT also reduces alcohol valuation in the purchase task among individuals with AUD. However, no study to date has examined whether EFT reduces alcohol self-administration in the laboratory. Moreover, the neural correlates of EFT in AUD are also unknown. In these studies, we propose to test an intervention, EFT, which we hypothesize will decrease reinforcer pathology measures in a bar-like setting in the laboratory; that is, EFT will decrease delay discounting, as well as alcohol self-administration, demand, and craving compared to a control episodic thinking (CET) condition. Moreover, we hypothesize EFT will enhance activation in brain regions associated with prospection (e.g., hippocampus and amygdala) and the executive decision system (e.g., DLPFC). We will also examine the effect of EFT on real-world drinking.
Detailed description
In study 1, participants will be randomly assigned to experimental or control groups, stratified by AUDIT scores, SES, age and sex. Based on our 8 years of experience recruiting this population, we expect approximately 66% retention among eligible participants. Therefore, we will enroll approximately 107 participants in order to conclude with 64 completers. Participants will complete: a baseline assessment (S1), an alcohol self-administration session (S2 or S3), an fMRI session (S2 or S3). The alcohol self-administration session and the fMRI session will be completed in counterbalanced order. At the beginning of S2 and S3, participants in both groups will be prompted to generate positive events and related cues through a researcher-administered interview-based questionnaire. EFT group participants will be asked to think about and describe the most positive event that could realistically happen at each of 7 delays in the future (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 5 years, and 25 years). In contrast, participants randomized to the CET condition, will be asked to think about and describe the most positive event that occurred at each of 7 time points from the recent past (last night from 7pm-10pm, yesterday between 4pm-7pm, yesterday between 1pm-4pm, yesterday from 10am-12pm, yesterday between 7am-10am, the night before last between 7pm-10pm, and evening before last between 4pm-7pm). For each time point, the participant will be asked to integrate the event and sensory information into concise textual and/or auditory cues to be used in subsequent behavioral tasks. Cue generation will occur prior to both self administration and fMRI sessions (S2 and S3) to maximize the relevancy of cues at both sessions.
In study 2, participants will complete two sessions and undergo a one-week baseline monitoring phase where they provide breath samples to assess for recent alcohol use and report their drinks per day. Following this baseline period, participants will complete an fMRI then be randomized to either the EFT or Control group. Participants will then complete two weeks of monitoring, where they provide a breath sample three times a day and report the number of drinks they consumed. Participants will then come back to the lab to generate new EFT/CET cues, then complete two more weeks of monitoring. After conclusion of the second intervention period, participants will complete a post intervention session and then a one month follow up one month after study completion.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) | Experimental | Behavioral: Episodic Future ThinkingParticipants will generate positive future events they are looking forward to at five time points in the future (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 5 years, and 25 years). Participants will be reminded of these events using cues throughout the study and instructed to think about these cues as they make their decisions. |
| Control Episodic Thinking (CET) | Sham comparator | Behavioral: Control Episodic ThinkingParticipants will generate positive recent past events that have happened to them at five time points in the recent past (last night from 7pm-10pm, yesterday between 4pm-7pm, yesterday between 1pm-4pm, yesterday from 10am-12pm, yesterday between 7am-10am, the night before last between 7pm-10pm, and evening before last between 4pm-7pm). Participants will be reminded of these events using cues throughout the study and instructed to think about these cues as they make their decisions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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)
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Episodic Future ThinkingAlso: EFTParticipants will generate descriptions of vivid positive future events. | Behavioural | Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) |
| Control Episodic ThinkingAlso: CETParticipants will generate descriptions of vivid positive recent past events. | Behavioural | Control Episodic Thinking (CET) |
Primary outcome
Delay Discounting (DD) Rates (Studies 1 and 2)
Time frame: Pre-intervention (S1; baseline measures; Day 1), Post 1st cue generation: S2 (occurs up to 7 days post S1 in Study 1 and 2-3 weeks post S1 in Study 2), and Post 2nd cue generation: S3 (occurs up to 7 days post S2 in Study 1 and 2 weeks post S2 in Study 2)
DD rates were measured using an adjusting amount task where participants were presented with hypothetical choices between smaller immediate or larger later amounts of money after a range of delays (1 day-25 years). Individual indifference points were calculated for each delay and then used to estimate DD rates for each participant using Mazur's (1987) equation: V = A/(1+kD), where V is the value of the indifference point, A is the amount of the larger delayed reward, k is the discounting rate, and D is the delay. Discounting rates (k) were then natural-logarithmically transformed (ln(k)). Higher ln(k) indicates steeper discounting and greater reward devaluation with increases in delay, while a lower ln(k) reflects shallower discounting and less reward devaluation with increases in delay. Change in ln(k) will be compared within-subjects between S1 and S2, AND between S1 and S3.
Intensity of Alcohol Demand (Study 2)
Time frame: Pre-intervention (S1; baseline measure; Day 1), Post 1st cue generation, (S2; approximately 2 weeks post S1), and Post 2nd cue generation (S3; approximately 2 weeks post S2 and 4 weeks post S1)
Participants completed a hypothetical Alcohol Purchase Task in which they indicated how many drinks they would purchase at different prices ($0 to $80 per drink). The number of drinks purchased at $0 was used to calculate the intensity of demand. Changes in intensity of alcohol demand were compared within-subjects between S1 and S2, AND between S1 and S3.
In-Laboratory Alcohol Consumption (Study 1)
Time frame: Self-Administration session will occur at either Session 2 or Session 3 based on counterbalance assignment. S2 occurs up to 7 days post S1 and S3 occurs up to 7 days post S2.
The number of alcoholic beverages purchased/consumed during the self-administration session will be recorded. The average number of drinks consumed will be compared between groups.
fMRI Hyper-connectivity Decrease During Delay Discounting (Study 1)
Time frame: fMRI session occurred at either Session 2 or Session 3 based on counterbalance assignment. S2 occurred up to 7 days post S1 and S3 occurred up to 7 days post S2.
Measured using fMRI during delay discounting task. Whole-brain PPI analysis of right DLPFC between EFT and CET participants. We examined the number of participants whose Right DLPFC was negatively correlated with their Left DLPFC after the intervention. We hypothesize that AUD leads to hyperconnectivity (positive correlations) between these two regions as a compensatory decision-making mechanism, and that EFT should reduce or reverse this connectivity relationship
fMRI Hyper-connectivity Decrease During Alcohol Purchase Task (Study 1)
Time frame: fMRI session occurred at either Session 2 or Session 3 based on counterbalance assignment. S2 occurred up to 7 days post S1 and S3 occurred up to 7 days post S2.
Measured using fMRI during the alcohol purchase task. Whole-brain PPI analysis of right DLPFC between EFT and CET participants. We examined the number of participants whose Right DLPFC was negatively correlated with their Left DLPFC after the intervention. We hypothesize that AUD leads to hyperconnectivity (positive correlations) between these two regions as a compensatory decision-making mechanism, and that EFT should reduce or reverse this connectivity relationship
Change in Alcoholic Drinks Per Day (Study 2)
Time frame: Daily during Pre-intervention (week 1); Post 1st cue generation (weeks 2-3); and Post 2nd cue generation (weeks 4-5).
Participants self-reported the number of drinks consumed per day via a mobile app during the first five weeks of the study. The first week measured baseline drinking (Pre-intervention), weeks 2-3 measured drinking after the first cue generation (Post 1st cue generation), and weeks 4-5 measured drinking after the second cue generation (Post 2nd cue generation) The number of drinks per day was compared within-subjects and between groups (EFT and CET).
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Jan 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Investigators will adhere to all NIH requirements regarding data sharing. Participant data collected in this project will be de-identified and made available on a shared secured data repository. We will also share the analysis results. As part of this process, all investigators will be required to agree to the following conditions: 1) will adhere to the reporting responsibilities; 2) will not redistribute the data beyond the requesting individual and named collaborators; 3) will give appropriate acknowledgement; 4) will not use the data for commercial purposes; and 5) will obtain appropriate ethical approvals. Results from research conducted will be shared and disseminated, including: regular project meetings, annual meetings, symposia, workshops, and/or conferences for related groups. Manuscripts will be written and submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals/conferences, following the NIH Public Access Policy guidelines. All necessary ethical approvals will be obtained.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Stephen M LaConte, PhD principal investigator
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Episodic Future Thinking in people with Alcohol Use Disorder, run by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 23 Jan 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Delay Discounting (DD) Rates (Studies 1 and 2) (time frame: Pre-intervention (S1; baseline measures; Day 1), Post 1st cue generation: S2 (occurs up to 7 days post S1 in Study 1 and 2-3 weeks post S1 in Study 2), and Post 2nd cue generation: S3 (occurs up to 7 days post S2 in Study 1 and 2 weeks post S2 in Study 2)). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Jan 2026.