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RecruitingAccepts healthy volunteersPhase 2

A Pilot Study of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation to Boost the Efficacy of Psychotherapy in a Community Sample of People Who Drink Alcohol

The Mind Research Network · with National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) · NCT04770025

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 21–60 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Phase 2
Target enrollment
75
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
September 1, 2020
Record last updated
May 8, 2025

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The goal of this small (n=75) proof-of-concept randomized clinical trial is to test the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) during motivational interviewing (MI) sessions with participants who drink at above the low-risk level. Participants will be randomized to receive either MI with active stimulation, MI with sham stimulation, or a delayed treatment group that receives MI with no stimulation. Measures will include brain imaging, alcohol use, cannabis use, risk-taking behavior, emotions, and others. Participants who are randomized to the delayed-treatment group will not receive brain imaging.

Being studied: High-density transcranial alternating current stimulation; Sham stimulation; Motivational interviewing

Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Self-identify as having problem drinking
  • Right-handed
  • Age 21-60 years
  • AUDIT score indicating risky drinking

Exclusion criteria

  • Left-handed or ambidextrous
  • Currently engaged in treatment for alcohol use disorder
  • Receiving treatment for alcohol use disorder within the prior 12 months
  • History of brain injury or neurological diagnosis
  • Evidence of current psychosis
  • Past-year substance use disorder other than alcohol, marijuana, or nicotine
  • Current or history of severe alcohol withdrawal
  • MRI/tACS contraindications including pregnancy
  • Impaired hearing (psychotherapy using American Sign Language is not possible within the scope of the proposed study)
  • Insufficient corrected visual acuity to complete the assessment instruments
  • Unable to read/speak English fluently
  • Unable to provide valid informed consent

Recruiting US locations

  • The Mind Research Network

    Albuquerque, NM 87106

    Site contact: Jon M Houck, PhD · 505-925-2372 · brainstim@mrn.org

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Jon M Houck, PhD · (505) 925-2372 · brainstim@mrn.org
All healthy volunteers studies in New Mexico →
A Pilot Study of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation to Boost the… (NCT04770025) | Bored Studies