MRS Probe Study of Alcohol

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This protocol will investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of alcohol craving in recently detoxified alcoholic drinkers utilizing novel functional brain imaging. This clinical magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) study will investigate whether glutamate and other brain metabolites correlate to measures of alcohol craving severity

Official Title
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Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Probe Study of Alcohol Use

Conditions
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Heavy Dose Drinkers

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: (Minimal or No Alcohol Group) Male or female age 21-70 Consume less alcohol then what is described in this protocol as a higher dose drinker, or consume no alcohol at all. Able to complete a 60 min. MRS brain scan. Exclusion Criteria: Inability to speak English Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent Diagnosis of active substance dependence other than nicotine (e.g. alcohol, cannabis, caffeine, prescription use of barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opiates, or stimulants) this will be determined using a PRISM (Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders) interview. Any unstable active medical or additional psychiatric condition as determined by the investigator Active suicidal ideation as determined by the PHQ-9 question 9 indicating response #2 or higher (several days; more than half the days; or nearly every day). History of encephalopathy, hepatic failure, or HIV seropositivity History of claustrophobia History of major head trauma with loss of consciousness >5 minutes or skull fracture History of previous neurological event (e.g. epilepsy, stroke, transient ischemic attack) Implanted metal objects (e.g. pacemakers; aneurysm clips; metal prostheses, joints, rods, or plates) Contraindication to MRI scanning Pregnancy or breast-feeding

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Utilizing Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at 3 Tesla, investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of alcohol craving | assessing baseline perturbations in anterior cingulate and ventral striatal metabolites (NAA levels, glutamate levels, glutamine levels) |  | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Evaluate the relationship between these metabolites, each reported as a Cerebrospinal Fluid-corrected absolute concentration, and severity of alcohol cravings | Evaluate the relationship between these metabolites, each reported as a Cerebrospinal fluid-corrected absolute concentration, and severity of alcohol cravings, as measured primarily by the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale and secondarily by the Inventory of Drug Taking Situations. |  | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Alcohol, MRS, Heavy dose drinkers, NIAAA