Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

Enhancing Prospective Thinking in Early Recovery

United States200 participantsStarted 2023-03-28

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to use a novel virtual reality intervention to test for efficacy in reducing alcohol use and increasing abstinence, with concomitant increases in future self-identification, future time perspective, and delay-of-reward, in early recovering stimulant use disorder (SUD) persons. The main question\[s\] this trial aims to answer are: Will the Virtual Reality (VR) intervention decrease the number of stimulant use days? Will the VR intervention produce longer abstinence periods during follow-up visits? Will the VR intervention increase alcohol abstinence rates? Will the VR intervention increase future self-identification? Will the VR intervention increase self-reported future time perspective? Will the VR intervention increase preference for delayed rewards in a laboratory delay discounting task on the study day? Will the VR intervention produce gains in the behavioral effects of future self-identification, future time perspective, and delayed rewards at the 30-day and 6-month follow-ups? Researchers will compare the experimental and control groups to see if there are differences in the results for the questions outlined above.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Abstinence between ≥14 days and ≤1 year * At least 18 years old * Verbal endorsement of commitment to recovery * Outpatient * Psychotropic drugs for SUD-comorbidity * Drug/alcohol abstinence ≥ 24 hours at the time of the study day visit * English comprehension Exclusion Criteria: * Unstable medical disorders * Less than 18 years old * Habitual drug use * Mu-opioid drugs * Smell/taste disorders * Unstable psychiatric conditions * Extravagant/elaborate face tattoos

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1This trial focuses on 'prospective thinking' — meaning it's trying to help people think more about their future self as a way to support recovery from stimulant use — is that kind of psychological approach something that might actually fit where I am in my recovery right now?
2The trial is no longer recruiting new participants, so I can't join it — but are there similar programs or techniques focused on future-oriented thinking and delayed reward preference that my care team could offer me outside of a study?
3Since this study doesn't have a traditional phase number, it seems more focused on testing a behavioral or psychological approach rather than a drug — does that mean the risk profile is different from a medication trial, and what should I realistically expect in terms of what's known and unknown about its effectiveness?
4The trial is measuring things like 'future self-identification' and 'future time perspective' alongside actual abstinence days — can you help me understand what those psychological measures mean in practice, and whether working on how I think about my future is something that could complement other treatments I'm already doing?
5Given that this trial is specifically for stimulant use disorders and is already active but closed to new participants, are there other current or upcoming studies — or evidence-based treatments — targeting stimulant use that we should be considering for my situation?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.