Trial Outcomes & Findings for Using Neuroeconomics to Characterize State-Based Increases and Decreases in Alcohol Value (NCT NCT04067765)

NCT ID: NCT04067765

Last Updated: 2025-09-09

Results Overview

Breakpoint is defined as the first price on the alcohol purchase task that suppressed consumption to zero drinks. The mean breakpoint was calculated separately for the two neutral cue runs and the two alcohol cue runs.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

72 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Collected during each of 4 runs of the FMRI Alcohol Purchase Task. Duration of each run was approximately 6 minutes and included 26 trials.

Results posted on

2025-09-09

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Cue Exposure
Within subjects assignment to receive complete both an alcohol cue exposure and neutral cue exposure in a sequential order (neutral followed by alcohol cues. Each run was preceded by a slideshow of pictures of neutral or alcohol beverages. Following standard practice in laboratory cue exposure paradigms, the neutral cues were presented first (prior to runs 1-2) followed by the alcohol cues (prior to runs 3-4) to minimize potential of carryover effects. Neutral cues depicted various water beverages and alcohol cues depicted the participant's preferred alcohol type (beer, wine, or liquor). Each exposure included 30 cues presented for 3s each. Prior to the first neutral and alcohol cue run, an imaginal cue script was read aloud to the participant.
Neutral Cue Exposure (5 Minutes Total)
STARTED
72
Neutral Cue Exposure (5 Minutes Total)
COMPLETED
72
Neutral Cue Exposure (5 Minutes Total)
NOT COMPLETED
0
Alcohol Cue Exposure (5 Minutes Total)
STARTED
72
Alcohol Cue Exposure (5 Minutes Total)
COMPLETED
72
Alcohol Cue Exposure (5 Minutes Total)
NOT COMPLETED
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Using Neuroeconomics to Characterize State-Based Increases and Decreases in Alcohol Value

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Alcohol Cue Exposure
n=72 Participants
Within subjects assignment to receive complete both an alcohol cue exposure and neutral cue exposure in a sequential order.
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
72 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
37 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
35 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
67 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)
12.0 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.4 • n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
71 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Education
16.3 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.0 • n=5 Participants
Daily Drinking Questionnaire (DDQ)
22.3 Drinks/week
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.1 • n=5 Participants
Diagnostic Assessment Research Tool (DART) for DSM-5 Alcohol Use Disorder
49 Participants
n=5 Participants
30 Day Timeline Follow-Back Interview
20.3 Drinks/week
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.9 • n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Collected during each of 4 runs of the FMRI Alcohol Purchase Task. Duration of each run was approximately 6 minutes and included 26 trials.

Intensity is defined as the self-consumption in standard drinks at free price. Participants could select between 0-10 standard sized alcohol drinks on the in-scanner alcohol purchase task paradigm. The mean intensity was calculated separately for the two neutral cue runs and the two alcohol cue runs.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Alcohol Cue Exposure
n=72 Participants
Within subjects assignment to receive complete both an alcohol cue exposure and neutral cue exposure in a sequential order.
Alcohol Demand Intensity
Neutral Cue Exposure
7.42 Drinks
Standard Error 0.30
Alcohol Demand Intensity
Alcohol Cue Exposure
7.85 Drinks
Standard Error 0.27

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Collected during each of 4 runs of the FMRI Alcohol Purchase Task. Duration of each run was approximately 6 minutes and included 26 trials.

Breakpoint is defined as the first price on the alcohol purchase task that suppressed consumption to zero drinks. The mean breakpoint was calculated separately for the two neutral cue runs and the two alcohol cue runs.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Alcohol Cue Exposure
n=68 Participants
Within subjects assignment to receive complete both an alcohol cue exposure and neutral cue exposure in a sequential order.
Alcohol Demand Breakpoint
Neutral Cue Exposure
28.77 Dollars
Standard Error 1.67
Alcohol Demand Breakpoint
Alcohol Cue Exposure
32.48 Dollars
Standard Error 1.45

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Collected during each of 4 runs of the FMRI Alcohol Purchase Task. Duration of each run was approximately 6 minutes and included 26 trials.

Omax is defined as the maximum total expenditure on alcohol for the in-scanner alcohol purchase task. The mean Omax was calculated separately for the two neutral cue runs and the two alcohol cue runs.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Alcohol Cue Exposure
n=72 Participants
Within subjects assignment to receive complete both an alcohol cue exposure and neutral cue exposure in a sequential order.
Alcohol Demand Omax
Neutral Cue Exposure
49.54 Dollars
Standard Error 6.32
Alcohol Demand Omax
Alcohol Cue Exposure
60.63 Dollars
Standard Error 8.39

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Collected during each of 4 runs of the FMRI Alcohol Purchase Task. Duration of each run was approximately 6 minutes and included 26 trials.

Elasticity is defined as the change in consumption (in drinks) as a function of increases in price per drink (in dollars). This index was modeled using an exponentiated demand curve model as reported in \[Koffarnus, M. N., Franck, C. T., Stein, J. S., \& Bickel, W. K. (2015). A modified exponential behavioral economic demand model to better describe consumption data. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 23(6), 504-512. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000045\]. This nonlinear model generates a best fitting value for an alpha parameter, reflecting the rate of change in elasticity over increasing price. Higher alpha values reflect greater elasticity (greater sensitivity in consumption with increases in price). There is no theoretical range as this is a free parameter in the model. Mean alpha values were calculated separately for the two neutral cue runs and the two alcohol cue runs.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Alcohol Cue Exposure
n=72 Participants
Within subjects assignment to receive complete both an alcohol cue exposure and neutral cue exposure in a sequential order.
Alcohol Demand Elasticity
Neutral Cue Exposure
0.006 drinks consumed/price (dollars)
Standard Error 0.001
Alcohol Demand Elasticity
Alcohol Cue Exposure
0.003 drinks consumed/price (dollars)
Standard Error 0.001

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Collected immediately after the first neutral cue exposure and immediately after the first alcohol cue exposure.

Subjective alcohol craving was assessed using three 100-point scales, including how much they want alcohol, crave alcohol, and their urge for alcohol. A score of 0 indicates the lowest level of craving; a score of 100 indicates the highest amount of craving. The three items were averaged into a composite craving score.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Alcohol Cue Exposure
n=72 Participants
Within subjects assignment to receive complete both an alcohol cue exposure and neutral cue exposure in a sequential order.
Alcohol Craving
neutral cue exposure
19.72 Points
Standard Error 2.49
Alcohol Craving
alcohol cue exposure
27.99 Points
Standard Error 2.84

Adverse Events

Neutral Cue Exposure

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Alcohol Cue Exposure

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Michael Amlung

University of Kansas

Phone: 785-864-0334

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place