Research on the Efficacy of the "T.O.P. Computer Training" Procedure in the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence

Summary

The investigators evaluate the efficacy of a computerised program (T.O.P. tool) consisting of an approach avoidance training (AAT) (to retrain action tendencies for alcohol-related stimuli), a visual probe training (VPT) (to retrain attentional bias for alcohol-related stimuli) and the combination of both training procedures versus placebo training, as an add-on to treatment as usual (psycho-education and cognitive behavioral therapy).

The investigators include hospitalized detoxified alcohol-dependent patients, who receive a four week training procedure, existing of a pre-assessment, 6 training sessions and a post-assessment.

Outcome measures consist of behavioral measures (consumption of alcohol - self report over 1 year), questionnaires (AUDIT; craving on 9-point likert scale) and approach avoidance and visual probe measurement tasks.

A six month and 1 year follow-up is included (behavioral measures and AUDIT). Further, the investigators will also assess credibility (9-point likert scale) of the training procedure before the start of the training and immediately after the assessment of the AAT and VPT training.

Conditions

• Alcohol Dependence

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

active approach avoidance training and sham visual probe training

patients receive active AAT training and sham VPT training

BEHAVIORAL

sham approach avoidance training and active visual probe training

patients receive sham AAT training and active VPT training

BEHAVIORAL

active approach avoidance training and active visual probe training

patients receive active AAT training and active VPT training

BEHAVIORAL

sham approach avoidance training and sham visual probe training

patients receive sham AAT training and sham VPT training

Sponsors & Collaborators

• PZ Heilig Hart

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• PZ Sint-Camillus

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Amsterdam

  collaborator OTHER

• University Ghent

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• sarah C herremans, PhD, MD · UZ Gent

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-10-26

Primary Completion

2020-02-29

Completion

2020-02-29

Countries

• Belgium

Study Locations