CompletedNot Applicable

GABA Mechanisms Underlying the Vulnerability to Alcohol Dependence

United States73 participantsStarted 2005-11

Plain-language summary

This Project will explore the hypothesis that individuals with a family history positive for alcohol dependence (without any current Axis I disorder, except nicotine dependence), experience an alteration in the reward "valence" (balance of positive and negative effects) of the GABAA receptor agonist barbiturate (thiopental) compared to family history negative age-matched subjects. Further, variation in genes involved in brain GABA function may influence the risk for alcoholism by altering a component of the discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol.

Who can participate

Age range21 Years – 30 Years

SexALL

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Inclusion criteria

✓. Male and female between the ages of 21 and 30 years
✓. medically and neurologically healthy on the basis of history, physical examination, Electrocardiogram (EKG), screening laboratories
✓. absence of any evidence of substance abuse (with the exception of nicotine dependence) on the basis of history and drug and ethanol-free at the time of testing based on urine toxicology and breath alcohol levels at screening and on each test day.

Exclusion criteria

✕. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) Axis I psychiatric and substance abuse or dependence diagnosis by history on psychiatric evaluation that includes a structured diagnostic interview (SCID)
✕. unwillingness to remain alcohol-free for three days prior to each test day;
✕. for women, positive pregnancy test at screening or intention to engage in unprotected sex during the study and
✕. alcohol naive. For Family History Positive Subjects: 1) Biological father and another first or second-degree biological relative with history of alcoholism by Family History Assessment Module (FHAM) developed by The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA).

What they're measuring

Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol - Baseline

Timeframe: Baseline

Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol - 15 Minutes

Timeframe: 15 minutes

Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol - 45 Minutes

Timeframe: 45 minutes

Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol - 80 Minutes

Timeframe: 80 minutes

Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol - 110 Minutes

Timeframe: 110 minutes

Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol - 170 Minutes

Timeframe: 170 minutes

Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol - 230 Minutes

Timeframe: 230 minutes

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00611767

SponsorYale University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2012-04

Results submitted2016-11-17

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Alcoholism trials