MedTrace Logo

Feasibility of Integrating Olfactory Stimuli Into Virtual Reality Cue Exposure for Patients With Alcohol Dependence

NCT07388693 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 20

Last updated 2026-05-12

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Alcohol dependence (AD) is a prevalent and burdensome clinical condition with high relapse rates. A central risk factor for relapse is craving for alcohol, which can be evoked by both real-world and virtual cues in immersive Virtual Reality (VR). In addition to visual and auditory stimuli, olfactory stimuli are increasingly recognized as important for creating realistic, multisensory VR environments. However, no systematic investigation has yet examined how olfactory stimuli embedded in VR-based Cue Exposure (VR-CE) influence cue-elicited craving. As part of the OLFA-VR (Effects of Olfactory Stimuli in Virtual Reality Cue Exposure on Craving in Alcohol Dependence) research project, the present feasibility study aims to evaluate the feasibility, tolerability and acceptability of implementing olfactory stimuli into VR-CE.

In addition, this study not only examines the general feasibility of alcohol-related olfactory stimuli in VR-CE but also explores which specific alcohol-related olfactory stimuli prove to be feasible.

The investigators hypothesize that implementing olfactory stimuli into VR-CE will be feasible and tolerable for patients with AD, with no preventable serious side effects caused by VR-CE. The investigators also hypothesize that VR-CE will induce craving in most patients.

Conditions

  • Alcohol Dependence

Interventions

DEVICE

VR Cue-Exposure Including Olfactory Stimuli

Virtual Reality Cue Exposure (NCT05861843, NCT06333457)

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Charite University, Berlin, Germany

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Alva Lütt, Dr. med. · Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, 10115 Berlin, Germany

  • Stefan Gutwinski, Prof. Dr. med. · Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus, 10115 Berlin, Germany

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-03-07
Primary Completion
2026-05-31
Completion
2026-05-31

Countries

  • Germany

Study Locations

More Related Trials

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 NCT07388693 on ClinicalTrials.gov