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Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

NCT05841823 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 80

Last updated 2026-06-18

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study aims to compare the efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) with treatment-as-usual (TAU) 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 80 subjects with alcohol use disorder who have completed 2 weeks of in-patient detoxification will be randomized into two groups (VRET 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

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Henan 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
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
55 Years
Sex
MALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-06-01
Primary Completion
2024-06-30
Completion
2024-06-30

Countries

  • China

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05841823 on ClinicalTrials.gov