Actively Recruiting
Advancing Couple and Family Alcohol Treatment Through Patient-Oriented Research and Mentorship
Led by Medical University of South Carolina · Updated on 2026-04-03
140
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
52 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue linked to serious health and economic consequences including death and poor treatment outcomes. Researchers are studying how alcohol misuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) together influence alcohol-related IPV. This study involves couples to better understand these combined effects through controlled laboratory experiments and real-world monitoring over 28 days. Participants in the study will undergo an alcohol administration session aiming for a target breath alcohol concentration of 0.09 to 0.10 g/dL. The study includes couples with a history of physical IPV and where one or both partners may have PTSD or subthreshold PTSD. Researchers will compare findings from the controlled laboratory setting with naturalistic data collected through intensive ambulatory methods, also exploring heart rate variability as a physiological factor. During the study, participants will complete the alcohol administration paradigm and then engage in 28 days of ecological momentary assessment to report experiences of intimate partner aggression. Assessments will include laboratory and naturalistic measures of aggression, as well as psychophysiological monitoring. The study aims to gather detailed data on the interactions between PTSD, alcohol use, and IPV to inform future trauma-informed treatment approaches. The total duration of participation includes the initial lab session plus the 28 days of follow-up monitoring.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Advancing Couple and Family Alcohol Treatment Through Patient-Oriented Research and Mentorship
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Any gender identity; any race or ethnicity; ages 21 years or older
- Must report 2 or more heavy drinking episodes in the past 30 days (4+ drinks for women, 5+ for men in 2 hours) and have consumed an amount of alcohol equal to or greater than the study dose based on weight
- At least one instance of physical intimate partner violence in the current relationship reported by at least one partner
- Participants must agree not to drive or operate machinery on the day of the experimental visit; transportation provided if needed
- One or both partners in half the couples must meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD or subthreshold PTSD
You will not qualify if you...
- Possible drug use disorder (except caffeine or nicotine) meeting DSM-5 criteria; recent recreational drug use like cannabis is allowed
- Severe alcohol use disorder meeting DSM-5 criteria (applies to alcohol administration participants only)
- History or current diagnosis of psychotic or bipolar disorders
- Current suicidal or homicidal thoughts and intent
- Psychiatric or medical conditions making alcohol administration unsafe
- Body weight over 250 lbs (for alcohol dosing control; applies to alcohol administration participants only)
- Use of medications affecting cardiovascular responses such as lithium, methadone, alpha or beta blockers, or cholinergic/anticholinergic drugs (applies to alcohol administration participants only)
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Severe or one-sided partner violence in the past 6 months as measured by the CTS-2
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 1 day
Participants complete an alcohol administration paradigm reaching a peak breath alcohol concentration of 0.09 to 0.10 g/dL BrAC in a controlled laboratory setting.
1 in-person experimental visit
Duration - 28 days
Participants are observed for intimate partner aggression in their everyday environment after the alcohol administration visit.
No scheduled visits; participants are monitored in naturalistic settings
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Stacey Sellers
J
Julianne Flanagan
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
OTHER
Number of Arms
1
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