Neurofeedback for alcohol dependence

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Realtime fMRI neurofeedback as a treatment tool for alcohol addiction.

• IRAS ID

  163561

• Contact name

  David Linden

• Contact email

  LindenD@cardiff.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Cardiff University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 2 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  The main aim of the study is to develop a new, noninvasive and patient focused treatment tool for alcohol addiction (AA). This is important as relapse rate after detoxification at 6 months range between 50 to 80% even under intensive drug treatment and even when combined with other supportive interventions.
  We will use Neurofeedback, a brain imaging technique where participants are trained to influence local brain activity while receiving realtime feedback on their performance.

  In the present study our aim is to examine whether the neurofeedback method can help patients with alcohol addiction to control their urges to drink alcohol and thus remain abstinent. Previous research has shown that participants can successfully use the feedback to self-regulate their brain responses. Here we wil train patients to regulate responses of specific brain regions that are activated during exposure to alcohol-related stimuli, such as pictures of alcoholic drinks, and other motivational cues. Patients can use any mental strategy (e.g thinking about the negative consequences of drinking) that helps them to control their activity of the alcohol-related brain areas. We will ask patients to come in for several neurofeedback training sessions, spread across 6 months, and also to practice the mental strategies which they have used in the MRI scanner at home. To evaluate the clinical benefits of this method, we will ask patients to rate their urges to drink before, during and after the training session and also assess abstinence, alcohol consumption and other behavioural measures across 12 months after the first training. We will compare the outcomes of the training with a group of patients who will not do the neurofeedback training but receive standard treatment (e.g support groups and medication).

• REC name

  Wales REC 1

• REC reference

  14/WA/1172

• Date of REC Opinion

  26 Nov 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion