Web-based Alcohol- or Cocaine-specific Inhibition Training in Adolescents and Young Adults With Substance Use Disorder
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Substance-specific inhibition training, Control training.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD), Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Basic parameters: 14 years — 35 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Switzerland
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Web-based Alcohol- or Cocaine Specific Inhibition Training in Adolescents and Young Adults With Substance Use Disorder
Overview
Substance misuse is one of the most common risk factors for health problems and premature death among adolescents and young adults worldwide. Although there are effective treatments for substance use disorder (SUD), there is still a need to further improve their effectiveness and make them easier to access. Early research suggests that substance-specific inhibition training, when used in addition to specialized treatment, can improve treatment outcomes. This training aims to strengthen inhibition specifically in situations with substance-related cues. The goal of this project is to offer this training for the first time in the form of a smartphone app, which is expected to increase the availability of the training. The main aim of the study is to evaluate whether this new app-based cognitive training is feasible as an add-on to the treatment of SUD in adolescents and young adults. In addition, the study will gather preliminary insights into whether the training affects drinking behavior and related brain processes. The project will be conducted as a double-blind, clinical pilot study. A total of 210 adolescents and young adults between 14 and 35 years old will be recruited from five specialized treatment centers. After the first study visit, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) an intervention group receiving the alcohol-specific inhibition training or (2) a control group receiving a similar alcohol-nonspecific inhibition training. During their participation, all participants will complete six short training sessions with the app. About one month later, they will complete six additional booster training sessions. This research may help develop effective, easily accessible tools to support young people with substance use disorder.
Interventions
- Other Substance-specific inhibition training
Twelve sessions of substance-specific inhibition training - Other Control training
Twelve sessions of unspecific inhibition training
Primary outcome measures
- Number of participants recruited [Time frame: From enrollment to the last assessment, approx. 16 weeks]
- Number of participants successfully completing the program [Time frame: At the last assessment, approx. 16 weeks from enrollment]
- Proportion of participants completing the follow-up visits [Time frame: At the last assessment, approx. 16 weeks from enrolment]
- Number of participants adhering to the treatment [Time frame: From enrollment to last last training session, approx. 10 weeks]
- Number of adverse events [Time frame: From enrollment to the last assessment, approx. 16 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (4)
- Percentage of days abstinent [Time frame: At the last assessment, approx. 16 weeks from enrolment]
- Number of heavy drinking days [Time frame: At the last assessment, approx. 16 weeks from enrolment]
- P3-component of event-related potentials [Time frame: 4-6 weeks.]
- N2-component of event-related potentials [Time frame: 4-6 weeks.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age 14 - 35 years
- Alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT) ≥ 7 or Drug Use Identification Test (DUDIT) ≥ 8
- Currently undergoing outpatient treatment or online counselling in one of 7 specialized treatment settings
- Sufficient German language skills
- Informed Consent as documented by signature
- Owner of a smartphone with internet access
Exclusion criteria
- Other severe substance use (except nicotine and cannabis) determined by the cut-off value ≥ 25 in the drug use disorder identification test (DUDIT)
- Current medical conditions excluding participation
- Inability to read and understand the participant's information
- Enrolment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees, and other dependent persons
Additional exclusion criteria for Electroencephalography (EEG)-substudy:
- Current medication affecting EEG (e.g., benzodiazepines)
- Other severe substance use determined by the cut-off value ≥ 25 in the DUDIT (except nicotine)
- History of epilepsy
- Cochlea implant
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Primary purpose
- Other
Study locations
Switzerland · 1 center
- University of Bern — Bern
Publications
- Schuerch K, Koenig T, Guarriello A, Soravia L, Berger T, Adorjan K, Moggi F, Stein M. Mobile alcohol-specific inhibition training in adolescents and young adults with alcohol use disorder: study protocol for a randomized controlled feasibility trial. Front Psychol. 2026 Apr 22;17:1684231. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1684231. eCollection 2026. PMID 42099725
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07071779 · BASEC2024-01150