Alcohol Use Research Study
Researchers at Yale are conducting a research study aimed at investigating a combination of treatments – medication, cognitive training, and counseling – for alcohol use disorder.
Fast Facts
Meet Criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder
1+ Heavy Drinking Day in Past Month
Compensation Provided
Conducted in West Haven, CT
Study Background
Recovering from alcohol dependence often requires learning new skills, such as how to cope with cravings, how to better tolerate distress, and how to find more constructive problem-solving strategies. Training your brain with computer games could help you learn these skills more effectively.
This study will examine what happens when we combine cognitive training with donepezil, which can work as a cognitive enhancer. We hope that this pairing will help people drink less alcohol while also improving brain function.
Join our study today to help researchers learn more about the effectiveness of this treatment combination! Compensation provided.
HSS# GY0010
Study Background
Recovering from alcohol dependence often requires learning new skills, such as how to cope with cravings, how to better tolerate distress, and how to find more constructive problem-solving strategies. Training your brain with computer games could help you learn these skills more effectively.
This study will examine what happens when we combine cognitive training with donepezil, which can work as a cognitive enhancer. We hope that this pairing will help people drink less alcohol while also improving brain function.
Join our study today to help researchers learn more about the effectiveness of this treatment combination! Compensation provided.
HSS# GY0010
Additional Information
This study aims to investigate the safety and effectiveness of combining donepezil with computer-based cognitive remediation therapy as a treatment for alcohol use disorder.
You may qualify for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18-80 years old
- 1+ days of heavy drinking in the past month (4 drinks per day for men or 3 drinks per day for women)
- Meet criteria for alcohol use disorder (e.g., too much drinking, inability to stop drinking, alcohol craving, social or daily problems due to drinking)
- Have trouble remembering names or forget things easily
- No diagnosed psychotic disorders
- Not currently taking opioids or benzodiazepines
- Willing to take a medication for the purposes of participating
- Willing to attend in-person visits in New Haven, CT
- If female, not pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant
Your participation will last about 3 months. The study involves:
- Baseline visit (3 hours): cognitive assessments, medical history, alcohol & substance use history, urine toxicology test
- Taking a pill (donepezil or a placebo) for 12 weeks
- Computer-based training for at least 1 hour per day, 5 days per week, at the study center or any convenient location
- Weekly study visits & counseling sessions, providing strategies for sobriety, medication adherence, and recovery support services
- Cognitive assessment (1 hour) at the 7th week of training
- Cognitive assessment (3 hours) at the end of the study
Compensation up to $835 is provided for participation.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.
