Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Multicenter Randomized Study

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) compared to CBT alone for adults with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The study aims to see if this combination reduces alcohol consumption and craving 8 months after starting treatment. Participants must be abstinent for at least 15 days and diagnosed with AUD according to DSM-V criteria. The study will be conducted at four addiction day hospitals with follow-up lasting 8 months. All participants will first receive 4 weekly group CBT sessions during the first month after joining the study. Then, they will be randomly assigned to two groups: one receiving 4 weekly individual CBT sessions, and the other receiving 4 weekly VRET sessions during the second month. Each VRET session lasts 60 to 90 minutes and includes exposure to four different virtual environments, such as home, metro advertising, party, and supermarket settings, arranged by difficulty. Participants will be followed monthly for 6 months after the treatment period. During follow-up, researchers will track the participants' alcohol intake using the Timeline Follow-Back method and assess craving with the Transaddiction Craving Triggers Questionnaire. The main outcome measured is the cumulative number of standard alcohol drinks consumed monthly up to 8 months after inclusion. Safety and continued abstinence will also be monitored throughout the study.

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Therapy in Alcohol Use Disorder Study