Heavy DrinkingNCT04275739
Brief Academic Future Thinking Intervention for College Student Drinkers
A study testing Academic Episodic Future Thinking and Vivid Memory Task in people with Heavy Drinking, run by University of Memphis at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The present study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and initial utility of a brief academic goal-relevant episodic future thinking (A-EFT) task among heavy college drinkers. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Heavy Drinking
- What is being tested?
- Academic Episodic Future Thinking and Vivid Memory Task
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 45 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 20 Jan 2018to 30 Aug 2019
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Full-time Freshman/Sophomore Student
- 2+ Recent heavy drinking episodes (4/5 standard drinks in one sitting for men/women)
Who cannot join
- Current or past substance abuse treatment
- Current moderate/severe depressive symptoms
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Episodic Future Thinking as a Brief Alcohol Intervention for Heavy Drinking College Students: A Pilot Feasibility Study
The present study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and initial utility of a brief academic goal-relevant episodic future thinking (A-EFT) task among heavy college drinkers.
First, the study attempts to extend the temporal reach of EFT interventions which have demonstrated immediate reductions in discounting, and alcohol demand. The current study utilized a longitudinal design to evaluate whether EFT can change drinking behavior outside the lab in heavy drinking college students. The two-group experimental design included an active control group, weekly booster contact, and 1-month follow-up. Second, this study seeks to investigate whether the process of engaging in EFT is sufficient to produce effects when cues are not presented during the decision-making task. Lastly, this study adds an academic goal-related focus to the EFT task based on previous research indicating that forming meaningful academic goals is protective against drinking and associated problems.
- Conditions
- Heavy Drinking
- Being tested
- Academic Episodic Future Thinking, Vivid Memory Task
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Academic Episodic Future ThinkingBehavioural
Brief Academic goal related EFT intervention involving desirable outcomes of current academic goals
Vivid Memory TaskOther
Matched for time control task involving recall of vivid memories of distinct events/actions from a children's story
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Episodic Future Thinking | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Academic Episodic Future Thinking |
| Control: Vivid Memory Task | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Vivid Memory Task |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Daily Drinking Questionnaire
Indicate how many standard drinks were consumed on each day of a "typical week" in the past month
Measured: Baseline
Daily Drinking Questionnaire
Indicate how many standard drinks were consumed on each day of a "typical week" in the past month
Measured: 1-month post
Alcohol-Related Consequences
Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire - Indicate "yes" or "no" to experiencing each alcohol-related consequences in the past month
Measured: Baseline
Alcohol-Related Consequences
Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire - Indicate "yes" or "no" to experiencing each alcohol-related consequences in the past month
Measured: 1-month post
Alcohol Demand
Alcohol Purchase Task - Indicate hypothetical alcohol purchase behavior at a variety of price points
Measured: Baseline
Alcohol Demand
Alcohol Purchase Task - Indicate hypothetical alcohol purchase behavior at a variety of price points
Measured: Post-session - immediately after intervention;control
Alcohol Demand
Alcohol Purchase Task - Indicate hypothetical alcohol purchase behavior at a variety of price points
Measured: 1-month post
Delayed Reward Discounting
5-Choice Minute Discounting task - Indicate preference for various choices of immediate small vs. larger delayed rewards
Measured: Baseline
Delayed Reward Discounting
5-Choice Minute Discounting task - Indicate preference for various choices of immediate small vs. larger delayed rewards
Measured: Post-session - immediately after intervention/control
Delayed Reward Discounting
5-Choice Minute Discounting task - Indicate preference for various choices of immediate small vs. larger delayed rewards
Measured: 1-month post
Secondary outcomes (4)
Protective Behavioral Strategies
Indicate frequency of use of each protective strategy on a 1-6 Likert-type scale (1 = Never, 6 = Always)
Measured: Baseline
Protective Behavioral Strategies
Indicate frequency of use of each protective strategy on a 1-6 Likert-type scale (1 = Never, 6 = Always)
Measured: 1-month post
Academic Engagement
Single item assessing time spent studying during the past week
Measured: Baseline
Academic Engagement
Single item assessing time spent studying during the past week
Measured: 1-month post
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Feb 2020
- Study start20 Jan 2018
- Primary completion30 Aug 2019
- Study completion30 Aug 2019
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Heavy DrinkingStudies 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Memphis
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Andrew Voss, University of Memphis
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04275739
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PRO-FY2017-587
- Status last verified
- Feb 2020
- First submitted
- 5 Feb 2020
- Last updated
- 19 Feb 2020
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Voss AT, Jorgensen MK, Murphy JG. Episodic future thinking as a brief alcohol intervention for heavy drinking college students: A pilot feasibility study. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2022 Jun;30(3):313-325. doi: 10.1037/pha0000451. Epub 2021 Feb 25.
PubMed 33630649
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Feb 2020. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Episodic Future Thinking as a Brief Alcohol Intervention for Heavy Drinking College Students: A Pilot Feasibility Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04275739
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PRO-FY2017-587
- Conditions
- Heavy Drinking
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of MemphisUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Jan 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Aug 2019 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Aug 2019 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Feb 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The present study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and initial utility of a brief academic goal-relevant episodic future thinking (A-EFT) task among heavy college drinkers.
First, the study attempts to extend the temporal reach of EFT interventions which have demonstrated immediate reductions in discounting, and alcohol demand. The current study utilized a longitudinal design to evaluate whether EFT can change drinking behavior outside the lab in heavy drinking college students. The two-group experimental design included an active control group, weekly booster contact, and 1-month follow-up. Second, this study seeks to investigate whether the process of engaging in EFT is sufficient to produce effects when cues are not presented during the decision-making task. Lastly, this study adds an academic goal-related focus to the EFT task based on previous research indicating that forming meaningful academic goals is protective against drinking and associated problems.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Episodic Future Thinking | Experimental | Behavioral: Academic Episodic Future Thinking |
| Control: Vivid Memory Task | Active comparator | Other: Vivid Memory Task |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Full-time Freshman/Sophomore Student
- 2+ Recent heavy drinking episodes (4/5 standard drinks in one sitting for men/women)
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Current or past substance abuse treatment
- Current moderate/severe depressive symptoms
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Episodic Future ThinkingBrief Academic goal related EFT intervention involving desirable outcomes of current academic goals | Behavioural | Experimental: Episodic Future Thinking |
| Vivid Memory TaskMatched for time control task involving recall of vivid memories of distinct events/actions from a children's story | Other | Control: Vivid Memory Task |
Primary outcome
Daily Drinking Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline
Indicate how many standard drinks were consumed on each day of a "typical week" in the past month
Daily Drinking Questionnaire
Time frame: 1-month post
Indicate how many standard drinks were consumed on each day of a "typical week" in the past month
Alcohol-Related Consequences
Time frame: Baseline
Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire - Indicate "yes" or "no" to experiencing each alcohol-related consequences in the past month
Alcohol-Related Consequences
Time frame: 1-month post
Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire - Indicate "yes" or "no" to experiencing each alcohol-related consequences in the past month
Alcohol Demand
Time frame: Baseline
Alcohol Purchase Task - Indicate hypothetical alcohol purchase behavior at a variety of price points
Alcohol Demand
Time frame: Post-session - immediately after intervention;control
Alcohol Purchase Task - Indicate hypothetical alcohol purchase behavior at a variety of price points
Alcohol Demand
Time frame: 1-month post
Alcohol Purchase Task - Indicate hypothetical alcohol purchase behavior at a variety of price points
Delayed Reward Discounting
Time frame: Baseline
5-Choice Minute Discounting task - Indicate preference for various choices of immediate small vs. larger delayed rewards
Delayed Reward Discounting
Time frame: Post-session - immediately after intervention/control
5-Choice Minute Discounting task - Indicate preference for various choices of immediate small vs. larger delayed rewards
Delayed Reward Discounting
Time frame: 1-month post
5-Choice Minute Discounting task - Indicate preference for various choices of immediate small vs. larger delayed rewards
4 secondary outcomes
Protective Behavioral Strategies
Time frame: Baseline
Protective Behavioral Strategies
Time frame: 1-month post
Academic Engagement
Time frame: Baseline
Academic Engagement
Time frame: 1-month post
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Feb 2020.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 33630649Voss AT, Jorgensen MK, Murphy JG. Episodic future thinking as a brief alcohol intervention for heavy drinking college students: A pilot feasibility study. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2022 Jun;30(3):313-325. doi: 10.1037/pha0000451. Epub 2021 Feb 25.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Academic Episodic Future Thinking and Vivid Memory Task in people with Heavy Drinking, run by University of Memphis 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 2 inclusion and 2 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 19 Feb 2020. 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. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Daily Drinking Questionnaire (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 10 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04275739, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 19 Feb 2020; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 4 Nov 2026.