Alcohol Use DisorderRP1BNCT04128761
Decreasing the Temporal Window in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder
A study testing Scarcity Narrative and Neutral Narrative in people with Alcohol Use Disorder, run by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
In the absence of sufficient monetary resources, individuals must attend to immediate, minimum needs (e.g., food, shelter). This constricts one's temporal window and engenders neglect of the future. In observational studies, scarcity is associated with higher rates of delay discounting. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Alcohol Use Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Scarcity Narrative and Neutral Narrative
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 124 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 21 Sep 2023to 28 May 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 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- High-risk or harmful drinking (AUDIT>15)
- 21 years of age or older
- 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
Who cannot join
- having a current unmanaged psychotic disorder
- reporting current pregnancy or lactation
- having dementia
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 1B: Decreasing the Temporal Window
In the absence of sufficient monetary resources, individuals must attend to immediate, minimum needs (e.g., food, shelter). This constricts one's temporal window and engenders neglect of the future. In observational studies, scarcity is associated with higher rates of delay discounting. Additionally, socioeconomic status is inversely associated with alcohol use disorder and related problems. Experimentally, scarcity shortens attention, impedes cognitive function, and increases delay discounting in multiple populations. Moreover, scarcity increases demand for fast foods in the obese and increases craving for alcohol in problem drinkers. These data suggest that economic scarcity worsens both components of reinforcer pathology (delay discounting and alcohol overvaluation), thus increasing vulnerability to alcohol use disorder. However, studies investigating the effects of scarcity on alcohol demand discounting rate have been limited. The purpose of Aim 1b is to examine effects of decreasing the temporal window and its concomitant effects on alcohol valuation (demand, and craving) and delay discounting.
Read the detailed description
Participants will be randomly assigned to experimental or control groups, balanced by discounting rates and sex. We plan to have 112 participants complete the study, based on our power analysis. Participants will complete two online sessions. During the first session, they will complete the baseline assessments. During the second session, they will complete the same assessments after being exposed to the scarcity or control narratives (both in audio format).
The assessment will include delay discounting and demand tasks, and measures of alcohol craving. Participants will also complete assessments of their stress and mood response to the narrative intervention, using the Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM) for two purposes. That is, 1) to monitor participant safety, 2) to measure the mediating ability of affect on changes in the temporal window.
- Conditions
- Alcohol Use Disorder
- Being tested
- Scarcity Narrative, Neutral Narrative
- Keywords
- Delay Discounting, Behavioral Economic Demand, Scarcity Narrative, 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.
Scarcity NarrativeBehavioural
Participants are presented with a hypothetical scarcity narrative and asked to listen and consider the scenario.
Neutral NarrativeBehavioural
Participants are presented with a hypothetical neutral narrative and asked to listen and consider the scenario.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Scarcity Narrative | Experimental | Participants assigned to the scarcity group will be asked to listen and consider a hypothetical narrative about a sudden loss of resources. Receives: Behavioral: Scarcity Narrative |
| Neutral Narrative | Sham comparator | Participants assigned to the neutral group will be asked to listen and consider a hypothetical narrative about a neutral change in resources. Receives: Behavioral: Neutral Narrative |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Delay Discounting (DD) Rates
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.
Changes in ln(k) were compared within-subjects between S1 and S2. Average ln(k) was calculated for each session (S1 and S2) in each condition (scarcity or neutral).
Measured: At the first session (S1; baseline measures) and Session 2 (S2; occurs approximately 2-3 days after S1)
Intensity of Alcohol Demand
Participants completed a hypothetical Alcohol Purchase Task where they had to indicate 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 Session 1 and Session 2, and between narrative type (scarcity or neutral).
Measured: At the first session (S1; baseline measures) and Session 2 (S2; occurs approximately 2-3 days after S1)
Change in Alcohol Craving
A brief questionnaire (the Alcohol Urges Questionnaire) will be used to assess alcohol craving. The Alcohol Urges Questionnaire is an 8-item survey that produces scores between 8-56, where higher scores indicate greater craving. Change in alcohol craving will be compared within-subjects between Session 1 and Session 2. The scores will be compared between groups (arms) across sessions.
Measured: At the first session (S1; baseline measures) and Session 2 (S2; occurs approximately 2-3 days after S1)
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in Stress Appraisal Measure
The Stress Appraisal Measure will be used to measure acute stress induced by the intervention. This measure is a 28-item survey that produces scores between 28-140, where higher scores indicate greater stress. Change scores were compared between groups during Session 2, to assess differences in stress level as a function of the narrative presented.
Measured: Session 2 (occurs approximately 2-3 days after baseline [S1])
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Oct 2019
- Study start21 Sep 2023
- Primary completion28 May 2024
- Study completion28 May 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 124 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
- Principal investigator, Stephen LaConte, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Investigators
- Stephen M LaConte, PhD, Principal investigator, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04128761
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- #23-621
- Other IDs
- R01AA027381-01A1
- Acronym
- RP1B
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 10 Oct 2019
- Last updated
- 17 Dec 2025
- 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 17 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Reinforcer Pathology 1B: Decreasing the Temporal Window
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04128761
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RP1B / #23-621
- Conditions
- Alcohol Use Disorder
- Keywords
- Delay Discounting, Behavioral Economic Demand, Scarcity Narrative, Alcohol Craving
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 124 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
- 21 Sep 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 May 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 28 May 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 16 Oct 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 17 Dec 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
In the absence of sufficient monetary resources, individuals must attend to immediate, minimum needs (e.g., food, shelter). This constricts one's temporal window and engenders neglect of the future. In observational studies, scarcity is associated with higher rates of delay discounting. Additionally, socioeconomic status is inversely associated with alcohol use disorder and related problems. Experimentally, scarcity shortens attention, impedes cognitive function, and increases delay discounting in multiple populations. Moreover, scarcity increases demand for fast foods in the obese and increases craving for alcohol in problem drinkers. These data suggest that economic scarcity worsens both components of reinforcer pathology (delay discounting and alcohol overvaluation), thus increasing vulnerability to alcohol use disorder. However, studies investigating the effects of scarcity on alcohol demand discounting rate have been limited. The purpose of Aim 1b is to examine effects of decreasing the temporal window and its concomitant effects on alcohol valuation (demand, and craving) and delay discounting.
Detailed description
Participants will be randomly assigned to experimental or control groups, balanced by discounting rates and sex. We plan to have 112 participants complete the study, based on our power analysis. Participants will complete two online sessions. During the first session, they will complete the baseline assessments. During the second session, they will complete the same assessments after being exposed to the scarcity or control narratives (both in audio format).
The assessment will include delay discounting and demand tasks, and measures of alcohol craving. Participants will also complete assessments of their stress and mood response to the narrative intervention, using the Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM) for two purposes. That is, 1) to monitor participant safety, 2) to measure the mediating ability of affect on changes in the temporal window.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Scarcity Narrative | Experimental | Behavioral: Scarcity NarrativeParticipants assigned to the scarcity group will be asked to listen and consider a hypothetical narrative about a sudden loss of resources. |
| Neutral Narrative | Sham comparator | Behavioral: Neutral NarrativeParticipants assigned to the neutral group will be asked to listen and consider a hypothetical narrative about a neutral change in resources. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- High-risk or harmful drinking (AUDIT>15)
- 21 years of age or older
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- having a current unmanaged psychotic disorder
- reporting current pregnancy or lactation
- having dementia
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Scarcity NarrativeParticipants are presented with a hypothetical scarcity narrative and asked to listen and consider the scenario. | Behavioural | Scarcity Narrative |
| Neutral NarrativeParticipants are presented with a hypothetical neutral narrative and asked to listen and consider the scenario. | Behavioural | Neutral Narrative |
Primary outcome
Delay Discounting (DD) Rates
Time frame: At the first session (S1; baseline measures) and Session 2 (S2; occurs approximately 2-3 days after S1)
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. Changes in ln(k) were compared within-subjects between S1 and S2. Average ln(k) was calculated for each session (S1 and S2) in each condition (scarcity or neutral).
Intensity of Alcohol Demand
Time frame: At the first session (S1; baseline measures) and Session 2 (S2; occurs approximately 2-3 days after S1)
Participants completed a hypothetical Alcohol Purchase Task where they had to indicate 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 Session 1 and Session 2, and between narrative type (scarcity or neutral).
Change in Alcohol Craving
Time frame: At the first session (S1; baseline measures) and Session 2 (S2; occurs approximately 2-3 days after S1)
A brief questionnaire (the Alcohol Urges Questionnaire) will be used to assess alcohol craving. The Alcohol Urges Questionnaire is an 8-item survey that produces scores between 8-56, where higher scores indicate greater craving. Change in alcohol craving will be compared within-subjects between Session 1 and Session 2. The scores will be compared between groups (arms) across sessions.
1 secondary outcome
Change in Stress Appraisal Measure
Time frame: Session 2 (occurs approximately 2-3 days after baseline [S1])
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Dec 2025.
- 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 Scarcity Narrative and Neutral Narrative 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 3 inclusion and 3 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 17 Dec 2025. 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 17 Dec 2025). 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 (time frame: At the first session (S1; baseline measures) and Session 2 (S2; occurs approximately 2-3 days after S1)). The study lists 3 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 17 Dec 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 2 Nov 2026.