Internalized Stress in Relation to Alcohol Consumption

NCT ID: NCT06091189

Last Updated: 2025-05-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

EARLY_PHASE1

Total Enrollment

165 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-02-12

Study Completion Date

2025-02-28

Brief Summary

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The proposed study uses an experimental design to establish causal support for the role of internalized stress, pertaining to uncertainty with regard to one's sexual orientation, in contributing to heavy drinking behavior. Following exposure to internalized sexual stigma, physiological and psychological stress responses are expected to increase alcohol consumption in adults who are uncertain about their sexual orientation, especially among females, and following consumption, the physiological effects of ethanol and beliefs about the effects of alcohol are expected to alter relations between exposure to sexual stigma and the alleviation of psychological distress. Showing that physiological stress responses, whether driven by the pharmacological effects of ethanol or expectancies regarding its effects, can account for known alcohol-use disparities, particularly in bisexual/bi+ communities, would contribute a great deal to knowledge on the biology of addiction and inform subsequent interventions that seek to regulate stress reactivity.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Stress, Physiological Ethanol Intoxication Distress, Emotional

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators
Participants will not be informed of their assigned experimental condition until the debriefing occurs. Investigators will be blind to participants assigned experimental condition.

Study Groups

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Relevant Stressor Condition with No Ethanol

Participants complete the Relevant Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), which asks participants to prepare a 5-minute speech on how their sexuality has developed over time. Participants are then assigned to receive a placebo priming beverage (with no ethanol) to consume over 10 minutes. Participants will consume the initial placebo drink, which is intended as a priming cue. Next, participants will be given a free period of an additional 20 minutes in which participants can consume up to three additional placebo cocktails, which do not contain ethanol.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Relevant Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Relevant TSST condition is a behavioral intervention that catalyzes an internalized stress response in the presence of a relevant social identity.

Placebo Beverage

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Placebo drinks will not contain ethanol; Drinks given to participants in the placebo beverage condition will contain a mixer that does not contain ethanol.

Irrelevant Stressor Condition with No Ethanol

Participants complete the Irrelevant Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), which asks participants to prepare a 5-minute speech on how their gender identity has developed over time. Participants are then assigned to receive a placebo priming beverage (with no ethanol) to consume over 10 minutes. Participants will consume the initial placebo drink, which is intended as a priming cue. Next, participants will be given a free period of an additional 20 minutes in which participants can consume up to three additional placebo cocktails, which do not contain ethanol.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Placebo Beverage

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Placebo drinks will not contain ethanol; Drinks given to participants in the placebo beverage condition will contain a mixer that does not contain ethanol.

Irrelevant Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Irrelevant TSST condition is a behavioral intervention that functions as an alternative comparative condition, given no internalized stress response is expected in the presence of an irrelevant social identity.

Control Stressor Condition with No Ethanol

Participants complete the Control Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), which asks participants to prepare a 5-minute speech on a recent book participants read, or a recent movie participants saw. Participants are then assigned to receive a placebo priming beverage (with no ethanol) to consume over 10 minutes. Participants will consume the initial placebo drink, which is intended as a priming cue. Next, participants will be given a free period of an additional 20 minutes in which participants can consume up to three additional placebo cocktails, which do not contain ethanol.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Placebo TSST is an established behavioral intervention that does not prompt significant stress responses.

Placebo Beverage

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Placebo drinks will not contain ethanol; Drinks given to participants in the placebo beverage condition will contain a mixer that does not contain ethanol.

Relevant Stressor Condition with Ethanol

Participants complete the Relevant Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), which asks participants to prepare a 5-minute speech on how their sexuality has developed over time. Participants are then assigned to receive a priming beverage containing ethanol to consume over 10 minutes. Participants will consume the initial drink containing ethanol, which is intended as a priming dose. Next, participants will be given a free period of an additional 20 minutes in which participants can consume up to three additional cocktails, which contain ethanol. The initial drink in the alcohol condition will contain 0.3 g/kg (males) or 0.2 g/kg (females) of 80-proof ethanol, adjusted for body weight, and subsequent drinks will contain 0.1 g/kg of ethanol.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Relevant Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Relevant TSST condition is a behavioral intervention that catalyzes an internalized stress response in the presence of a relevant social identity.

Ethanol

Intervention Type DRUG

The initial drink in the alcohol condition will contain 0.3 g/kg (males) or 0.2 g/kg (females) of 80-proof ethanol, adjusted for body weight, and subsequent drinks will contain 0.1 g/kg of ethanol. None of the control (placebo) drinks will contain ethanol.

Irrelevant Stressor Condition with Ethanol

Participants complete the Irrelevant Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), which asks participants to prepare a 5-minute speech on how their gender identity has developed over time. Participants are then assigned to receive a priming beverage containing ethanol to consume over 10 minutes. Participants will consume the initial drink containing ethanol, which is intended as a priming dose. Next, participants will be given a free period of an additional 20 minutes in which participants can consume up to three additional cocktails, which contain ethanol. The initial drink in the alcohol condition will contain 0.3 g/kg (males) or 0.2 g/kg (females) of 80-proof ethanol, adjusted for body weight, and subsequent drinks will contain 0.1 g/kg of ethanol.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Ethanol

Intervention Type DRUG

The initial drink in the alcohol condition will contain 0.3 g/kg (males) or 0.2 g/kg (females) of 80-proof ethanol, adjusted for body weight, and subsequent drinks will contain 0.1 g/kg of ethanol. None of the control (placebo) drinks will contain ethanol.

Irrelevant Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Irrelevant TSST condition is a behavioral intervention that functions as an alternative comparative condition, given no internalized stress response is expected in the presence of an irrelevant social identity.

Control Stressor Condition with Ethanol

Participants complete the Control Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), which asks participants to prepare a 5-minute speech on a recent book participants read, or a recent movie participants saw. Participants are then assigned to receive a priming beverage containing ethanol to consume over 10 minutes. Participants will consume the initial drink containing ethanol, which is intended as a priming dose. Next, participants will be given a free period of an additional 20 minutes in which participants can consume up to three additional cocktails, which contain ethanol. The initial drink in the alcohol condition will contain 0.3 g/kg (males) or 0.2 g/kg (females) of 80-proof ethanol, adjusted for body weight, and subsequent drinks will contain 0.1 g/kg of ethanol.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Ethanol

Intervention Type DRUG

The initial drink in the alcohol condition will contain 0.3 g/kg (males) or 0.2 g/kg (females) of 80-proof ethanol, adjusted for body weight, and subsequent drinks will contain 0.1 g/kg of ethanol. None of the control (placebo) drinks will contain ethanol.

Placebo Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Placebo TSST is an established behavioral intervention that does not prompt significant stress responses.

Interventions

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Relevant Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)

The Relevant TSST condition is a behavioral intervention that catalyzes an internalized stress response in the presence of a relevant social identity.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Ethanol

The initial drink in the alcohol condition will contain 0.3 g/kg (males) or 0.2 g/kg (females) of 80-proof ethanol, adjusted for body weight, and subsequent drinks will contain 0.1 g/kg of ethanol. None of the control (placebo) drinks will contain ethanol.

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)

The Placebo TSST is an established behavioral intervention that does not prompt significant stress responses.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Placebo Beverage

Placebo drinks will not contain ethanol; Drinks given to participants in the placebo beverage condition will contain a mixer that does not contain ethanol.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Irrelevant Trier Social Stressor Test (TSST)

The Irrelevant TSST condition is a behavioral intervention that functions as an alternative comparative condition, given no internalized stress response is expected in the presence of an irrelevant social identity.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Cisgender
* Age 21-29
* Sexual Identity Uncertainty (SIU; non-zero scores on a published measure). Among those with a zero level of SIU, only those who report sexual attractions and/or behaviors to both female and male partners (i.e., bisexual/bi+) will be invited to lab sessions.
* Scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) that indicate mild or moderate risk for potential alcohol use disorder

Exclusion Criteria

* Alcohol naive persons (i.e., those without a history of alcohol use in their lifetime ).
* Female persons who are currently pregnant (established with urine pregnancy test) or actively trying to get pregnant (self-report in the screening survey).
* Persons who are currently in treatment or who have ever been in treatment for a substance use disorder.
* Persons who have essential medications that disallow the consumption of alcohol.
* Persons with scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) that indicate high risk for potential alcohol use disorder; National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) standard drink equivalencies will be provided in the survey,
Minimum Eligible Age

21 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

29 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Texas Tech University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Kirschbaum C, Pirke KM, Hellhammer DH. The 'Trier Social Stress Test'--a tool for investigating psychobiological stress responses in a laboratory setting. Neuropsychobiology. 1993;28(1-2):76-81. doi: 10.1159/000119004.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8255414 (View on PubMed)

Het S, Rohleder N, Schoofs D, Kirschbaum C, Wolf OT. Neuroendocrine and psychometric evaluation of a placebo version of the 'Trier Social Stress Test'. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2009 Aug;34(7):1075-86. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.02.008.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19307062 (View on PubMed)

de Wit H, Chutuape MA. Increased ethanol choice in social drinkers following ethanol preload. Behav Pharmacol. 1993 Feb;4(1):29-36.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11224168 (View on PubMed)

Martin CS, Earleywine M, Musty RE, Perrine MW, Swift RM. Development and validation of the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1993 Feb;17(1):140-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1993.tb00739.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8452195 (View on PubMed)

Talley AE, Stevens JE. Sexual Orientation Self-Concept Ambiguity: Scale Adaptation and Validation. Assessment. 2017 Jul;24(5):632-645. doi: 10.1177/1073191115617016. Epub 2015 Dec 7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26643117 (View on PubMed)

Saunders JB, Aasland OG, Babor TF, de la Fuente JR, Grant M. Development of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): WHO Collaborative Project on Early Detection of Persons with Harmful Alcohol Consumption--II. Addiction. 1993 Jun;88(6):791-804. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1993.tb02093.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8329970 (View on PubMed)

Watson D, Clark LA, Tellegen A. Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1988 Jun;54(6):1063-70. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.54.6.1063.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3397865 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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AA030373

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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