RecruitingNot Applicable

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

Germany20 participantsStarted 2026-03-07

Plain-language 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.

Who can participate

Age range18 Years – 65 Years

SexALL

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Inclusion Criteria: * age: 18-65 years * diagnosis of alcohol dependence according to ICD-10 (F10.2) * history of alcohol craving * able to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * hyposmia * dependence on substances other than alcohol and nicotine * current alcohol intoxication (randomly tested by measurement of breath alcohol concentration) * unable to understand the study information, consent form or principles of the study * abstinence for less than 7 days or ongoing consumption of alcohol * severe neuropsychiatric disorder (e.g. schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar affective disorder) or substantial cognitive impairment * serious illnesses affecting brain or heart function that influence physiological study parameters * acute suicidality (or acute endangerment of others) * concurrent pharmacological treatment targeting AUD (e.g. benzodiazepines) or craving (e.g. acamprosate, disulfiram, naltrexone, nalmefene) and further medication significantly influencing heart rate

What they're measuring

Feasibility of Integrating Olfactory Stimuli Into Virtual Reality Cue Exposure

Timeframe: Day 1, after each Virtual Reality Cue Exposure (VR-CE): questions regarding olfactory stimuli identification, olfactory perception of intensity, realism and congruence Day 1, after completion of all VR-CEs and assessments: dropout

Tolerability of Integrating Olfactory Stimuli Into Virtual Reality Cue Exposure

Timeframe: Day 1, before the start of the Virtual Reality Cue Exposures (VR-CE): SAM, PANAS, FMS, SSQ Day 1, after each VR-CE: questions regarding tolerability, SAM, FMS Day 1, after completion of all VR-CEs: SAM, PANAS, FMS, SSQ

Acceptability of Integrating Olfactory Stimuli Into Virtual Reality Cue Exposure

Timeframe: Day 1, after each VR-CE: question regarding technical functionality Day 1, after completion of all VR-CEs: UEQ, semi-structured interview

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07388693

SponsorCharite University, Berlin, Germany

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-05-31

Contact for this trial

Nadja Ruckser, M.Sc.

+49 30 838 67876 nadja.ruckser@charite.de

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Alcohol Dependence trials