Enhancing Prospective Thinking in Early Recovery
Indiana University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to use a novel virtual reality intervention to test for efficacy in reducing alcohol use and increasing abstinence, with concomitant increases in future self-identification, future time perspective, and delay-of-reward, in early recovering stimulant use disorder (SUD) persons. The main question\[s\] this trial aims to answer are: Will the Virtual Reality (VR) intervention decrease the number of stimulant use days? Will the VR intervention produce longer abstinence periods during follow-up visits? Will the VR intervention increase alcohol abstinence rates? Will the VR intervention increase future self-identification? Will the VR intervention increase self-reported future time perspective? Will the VR intervention increase preference for delayed rewards in a laboratory delay discounting task on the study day? Will the VR intervention produce gains in the behavioral effects of future self-identification, future time perspective, and delayed rewards at the 30-day and 6-month follow-ups? Researchers will compare the experimental and control groups to see if there are differences in the results for the questions outlined above.
Description
We propose testing a novel VR paradigm for efficacy for increasing future self-identification, future time perspective, delayed reward preference, and recovery/abstinence outcomes. All participants will undergo VR, behavioral testing, longitudinal follow-up, and repeated drug testing. Both groups will receive the 5-min Park VR habituation (no avatar). The VR group will receive the Future Reality Portal VR experience plus mRecovery daily reminders for 30 days. TAU participants will experience the Park VR habituation and a matched-duration Park VR experience without an avatar and a non-personali…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Abstinence between ≥14 days and ≤1 year * At least 18 years old * Verbal endorsement of commitment to recovery * Outpatient * Psychotropic drugs for SUD-comorbidity * Drug/alcohol abstinence ≥ 24 hours at the time of the study day visit * English comprehension Exclusion Criteria: * Unstable medical disorders * Less than 18 years old * Habitual drug use * Mu-opioid drugs * Smell/taste disorders * Unstable psychiatric conditions * Extravagant/elaborate face tattoos
Interventions
- DeviceVirtual Reality
They will receive a Virtual Reality Park experience, which is an empty park with no avatars. They will then have a Virtual Reality Avatar experience, where they will see an avatar resembling themselves in a park setting.
- DeviceVirtual Reality
They will receive a Virtual Reality Park experience, which is an empty park with no avatars.
Location
- Indiana University School of Medicine - Goodman HallIndianapolis, Indiana