Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

Summary

This study aims to compare the efficacy of two types of interventions, which are acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as compared with virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) for alleviating psychological dependence on alcohol and preventing relapse. It also assesses the changes of EEG in patients with alcohol use disorder after completion of the above related interventions.

In this study 120 subjects with alcohol use disorder who have completed 2 weeks of in-patient detoxification will be randomized into three groups (VRET, ACT and treatment-as-usual control groups) and undergo respective interventions. Then assessment will be performed at four timelines (baseline, 4 weeks after baseline which is immediately after completion of intervention, 12 weeks after baseline, and 24 weeks after baseline assessment).

Conditions

• Alcohol Use Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET)

The relaxation scene includes four beautiful landscapes, and patients can choose any of these four, as perceived to be the most comfortable landscape. The visual stimulation of high-risk scene is designed as any combination of four different scenes (street barbecue stands, restaurant, bar and home) and four kinds of alcoholic beverages (Chinese liquor, beer, grape wine and cocktail), which are customized according to the patient's personal preference. At the same time, the odor of the alcoholic beverage of the patient's choice will be provided as an olfactory stimulation. The aversive situation will be the visual and auditory stimulation provided by a video of an alcoholic vomiting, while olfactory stimulation will be provided by cotton balls soaked in fermented dairy products.

BEHAVIORAL

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

The initial session began with case formulation. Subsequent sessions involved learning on acceptance and acknowledgement of unpleasant thoughts and feelings associated with alcohol craving and clinical features of alcohol use disorder, cognitive defusion on how to dissociate self avoidance of unpleasant thoughts and feelings, learning and practicing mindfulness exercise (such as mindfulness breathing) to make self aware of the many things that occurred presently which can be enjoyed and focus on rather than focusing on unpleasant thoughts and feelings, and learning to be aware of the safe self which is separated from the unpleasant thoughts and feelings and identifying values in life and strategies to achieve these values (therapeutic processes in hexaflex).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Xinxiang medical university

  collaborator OTHER

• Universiti Sains Malaysia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin Abdullah, Dr Psych · Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

55 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-06-01

Primary Completion

2026-01-31

Completion

2026-05-31