Sex Differences, Cognitive Training & Emotion Processing
Condition: Alcohol Use Disorder
MeSH terms: Alcoholism
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This pilot project addresses two understudied questions related to neurocognitive deficits
      observed in treatment-seeking alcoholics. First, whether cognitive training improves
      performance and outcomes in alcoholics, and whether men and women differ in their response to
      this training. The second is whether directed training using affective materials (e.g.,
      emotional faces) is differentially effective compared to that using traditional (i.e.,
      neutral) stimuli.
    

Detailed description: 
      This pilot project leverages the team's expertise in neurobehavioral assessment and focus on
      sex differences to examine the potential efficacy of cognitive training in treatment-seeking
      men and women with alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Specifically, the ask whether cognitive
      training interventions derived from current methods and conceptual models has differential
      benefits for treatment-seeking women vs. men. Although neurocognitive improvement during
      training is desired, of practical import is whether gains achieved transfer to other tasks
      and settings. Therefore, transfer of gains to tasks/domains varying in their similarity to
      training are assessed. Given noted sex differences in emotional processing and the purported
      role of emotional factors in women's substance use, training engaging emotional processing
      via the use of affective stimuli (faces and words) is included, predicting that women may
      differentially benefit from such training. Equal numbers of treatment-seeking men and women
      with AUDs will be randomly assigned to one of two active training interventions (neutral or
      affective stimuli). To control for abstinence-related recovery, a third group of
      participants, meeting identical selection criteria, will complete pre and post-intervention
      testing, but will not undergo the training intervention. Ss will complete baseline, 3 wks
      training (for active groups) and post-intervention testing and will be contacted monthly for
      3 months after discharge.
    

Intervention name(s): Affective Training; Neutral Training
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Intervention includes up to 12 training sessions (~45 minutes each). Training sessions includes practice on cognitive tasks embedded with emotionally salient stimuli. Tasks include a dual modality n-back and a directed attend/ignore memory task.; Intervention includes up to 12 training sessions (~45 minutes each). Training sessions includes practice on cognitive tasks embedded with neutral stimuli. Tasks include a dual modality n-back and a directed attend/ignore memory task.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: The primary design is a 3 (Training Condition: Neutral, Affective, Control) by 2 (Time: Baseline, Post-training) repeated measures design.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Other
Keywords: Cognitive Training; Emotion Processing