Dual Reinforcement Contingency Management for Alcohol Use Disorders

Description

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct biomarker of alcohol that can detect moderate to heavy drinking with high sensitivity and specificity over 3-week periods. Reinforcing negative PEth results alongside attendance may increase the proportion of participants who respond to CM during and post treatment. In the proposed study, the investigators will collect PEth samples every 3 weeks for 12 weeks in 150 participants initiating outpatient treatment for alcohol use disorders. Using a two-group randomized design, participants will be assigned to standard care with PEth monitoring alone or with CM for attending treatment and submitting PEth negative samples. Compared to standard care and monitoring, the investigators expect that the CM intervention will result in greater attendance, more PEth negative samples, and higher proportions of self-reported non-drinking days, along with lower proportions of heavy drinking days, over the short term and the long term, measured throughout a 12-month follow-up. The investigators anticipate that the reinforcement intervention may decrease other drug use and sexual risk behaviors that spread HIV, reduce psychiatric symptoms, and improve quality of life as well.

Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder, Contingency Management

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct biomarker of alcohol that can detect moderate to heavy drinking with high sensitivity and specificity over 3-week periods. Reinforcing negative PEth results alongside attendance may increase the proportion of participants who respond to CM during and post treatment. In the proposed study, the investigators will collect PEth samples every 3 weeks for 12 weeks in 150 participants initiating outpatient treatment for alcohol use disorders. Using a two-group randomized design, participants will be assigned to standard care with PEth monitoring alone or with CM for attending treatment and submitting PEth negative samples. Compared to standard care and monitoring, the investigators expect that the CM intervention will result in greater attendance, more PEth negative samples, and higher proportions of self-reported non-drinking days, along with lower proportions of heavy drinking days, over the short term and the long term, measured throughout a 12-month follow-up. The investigators anticipate that the reinforcement intervention may decrease other drug use and sexual risk behaviors that spread HIV, reduce psychiatric symptoms, and improve quality of life as well.

Dual Reinforcement Contingency Management for Alcohol Use Disorders

Dual Reinforcement Contingency Management for Alcohol Use Disorders

Condition
Alcohol Use Disorder
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Hartford

The Village, Hartford, Connecticut, United States, 06105

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * in intensive outpatient treatment
  • * DSM-5 diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder
  • * have a condition that may hinder study participation

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

UConn Health,

Sheila Alessi, Ph.D., PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, UConn Health

Study Record Dates

2025-05