Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation to Boost the Efficacy of Motivational Interviewing
The Mind Research Network
Summary
The goal of this small (n=75) proof-of-concept randomized clinical trial is to test the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) during motivational interviewing (MI) sessions with participants who drink at above the low-risk level. Participants will be randomized to receive either MI with active stimulation, MI with sham stimulation, or a delayed treatment group that receives MI with no stimulation. Measures will include brain imaging, alcohol use, cannabis use, risk-taking behavior, emotions, and others. Participants who are randomized to the delayed-treatment group will not receive brain imaging.
Description
This proof-of-concept randomized clinical trial will recruit n=75 people with problematic levels of drinking who are considering treatment for their alcohol use. These participants will be randomized to one of three conditions: a condition that applies active tACS during an MI session (MI+tACS), a condition that applies sham stimulation during an MI session (MI+sham), or a waitlist control condition (MI-only). Only participants the MI+tACS and MI+sham conditions will be included in the brain imaging portion of the study. One month after their intervention session, all participants will report…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 21–60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion criteria: * Self-identify as having problem drinking * Right-handed * Age 21-60 years * AUDIT score indicating risky drinking Exclusion criteria: * Left-handed or ambidextrous * Currently engaged in treatment for alcohol use disorder * Receiving treatment for alcohol use disorder within the prior 12 months * History of brain injury or neurological diagnosis * Evidence of current psychosis * Past-year substance use disorder other than alcohol, marijuana, or nicotine * Current or history of severe alcohol withdrawal * MRI/tACS contraindications including pregnancy * Impaired hearing…
Interventions
- DeviceHigh-density transcranial alternating current stimulation
High-density electrode configuration with transcranial alternating current stimulation in the beta (15-40Hz) frequency range
- DeviceSham stimulation
High-density electrode configuration with sham stimulation
- BehavioralMotivational interviewing
Motivational interviewing session focused on alcohol use, approximately 30 minutes in length
Location
- The Mind Research NetworkAlbuquerque, New Mexico