Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Prevention of Relapse Through Cognitive Cycling in Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder Following Alcohol Withdrawal

128 participantsStarted 2026-07-08

Plain-language summary

TUA-VelCo is a single-center randomized controlled superiority trial with blinded methodological assessment. Adult patients hospitalized for alcohol withdrawal and meeting the criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition will be eligible for inclusion. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a cognitive cycling intervention group or a control group. Participants in the experimental group will receive, in addition to standard addiction care, 12 cognitive cycling sessions (three sessions per week over four weeks). The control group will receive standard care combined with 12 scheduled telephone interviews conducted in parallel with the cognitive cycling sessions. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, 1 month (M1), and 3 months (M3) following hospital discharge. The primary outcome will be the proportion of participants maintaining abstinence at M1. Secondary outcomes include maintenance of abstinence at M3 and within-group and between-group changes in craving, cognitive functioning, insight, psychiatric symptoms, and motivation to maintain abstinent. These outcomes will be assessed using validated scales, including the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Hanil Alcohol Insight Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Biomarkers related to alcohol consumption and neuroplasticity will also be evaluated.

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: * adults aged ≥ 18 years * patients with a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD) according to DSM-5 criteria * who have been hospitalized for complex withdrawal and aim to maintain abstinence after discharge * patients must have preserved cognitive function, defined as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score ≥ 26 * patients must provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * pregnant women * patients with unstable psychiatric or somatic conditions * with a contraindication to physical activity * participants in structured rehabilitation programs during the first month * adult under guardianship * with inability to understand French or provide informed consent * with major neurocognitive disorder * with regular physical activity * participation in another interventional study interfering with outcomes

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.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

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.

What they're measuring

proportion of participants maintaining abstinence at M1

Timeframe: From enrollment to the end of the treatment at 4 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07690423

SponsorCentre Hospitalier Esquirol

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-09-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Cognitive Cycling trials