Alcohol Use Research Study
Researchers at the Hartford HealthCare Institute of Living are examining possible treatments for alcohol use disorders.
Fast Facts
Group 1: Social Drinkers
Group 2: Family History of Alcohol Problems
Compensation Provided
Conducted in Hartford, CT
Study Background
Researchers at the Hartford HealthCare Institute of Living are examining possible treatments for alcohol use disorders.
There are a number of different risk factors for alcohol use disorders, including whether your parents had problems with alcohol. We are recruiting two groups of participants for this study: one group of social drinkers who do not have a family history of alcoholism, and one group who do have a family history of alcoholism.
Substance use disorders like AUD are related to a difference in reward circuits in the brain, so in this study, we want to examine how a drug (Mavoglurant) affects those reward circuits. Mavoglurant has been used in previous research and is the same type of drug expected to play a role in alcoholism therapy.
Eventually, we hope that the findings of this study might be useful for treating alcohol use disorder.
Study Background
Researchers at the Hartford HealthCare Institute of Living are examining possible treatments for alcohol use disorders.
There are a number of different risk factors for alcohol use disorders, including whether your parents had problems with alcohol. We are recruiting two groups of participants for this study: one group of social drinkers who do not have a family history of alcoholism, and one group who do have a family history of alcoholism.
Substance use disorders like AUD are related to a difference in reward circuits in the brain, so in this study, we want to examine how a drug (Mavoglurant) affects those reward circuits. Mavoglurant has been used in previous research and is the same type of drug expected to play a role in alcoholism therapy.
Eventually, we hope that the findings of this study might be useful for treating alcohol use disorder.
Additional Information
In this research study, we want to examine how mavoglurant affects the reward circuits in the brain in order to explore the medication as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder.
You may qualify for a study if you belong to one of these two groups and meet all the inclusion criteria.
Group 1:
- Social drinker
- No family history of alcohol use problems
Group 2:
- Have a family history of alcohol problems, including a biological parent
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18-45 years old
- No major physical or psychological conditions
- Able to undergo MRI (no metal in the body, no claustrophobia)
- No severe alcohol use disorder
- No substance use other than cannabis or alcohol
- No history of significant head trauma
- Not pregnant
- Speak English
- No auditory or visual impairment
- Healthy individuals with no history of psychiatric disorders
Participation involves three in-person visits to the Institute of Living in Hartford, CT. Total participation time is about 17 hours.
- 1 Screening Visit (6-8 hours): consent, psychological & medical history, cognitive testing, demographics, blood draw, and EKG.
- 2 Study Visits (6 hours each): At each study visit, you will be administered either a placebo or 200mg dose of Mavoglurant. Mavoglurant has been used in previous research and is the same type of drug expected to play a role in alcoholism therapy. Then, you will complete an MRI, EEG, blood draw, and EKG.
As a participant, you can receive up to $450 for completing the entire study.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.
