Actively Recruiting
Involvement of the Septal Nuclei of the Human Brain in Alcohol Use Disorder
Led by Anders Fink-Jensen, MD, DMSci · Updated on 2025-06-11
25
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
29 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
A
Anders Fink-Jensen, MD, DMSci
Lead Sponsor
N
Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Alcohol activates reward systems in different brain areas, i.e., the nucleus accumbens, dorsal striatum, extended amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. These areas are all part of the reward neurocircuitry, which plays an important role in the development of addiction. A former study performed on rodents has shown that a specific area of the forebrain, the septal nuclei, is associated with the feeling of reward and, hence, addiction when stimulated. However, whether the septal area is involved in reward and addiction in humans is sparsely investigated. The purpose of this brain-imaging study is to assess how the septal nuclei react to alcohol-related pictures shown to participants diagnosed with alcohol use disorder while lying in an MRI scanner, compared to people without a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder. This might give us a better understanding of how the septal nuclei is involved in reward and addiction.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Involvement of the Septal Nuclei of the Human Brain in Alcohol Use Disorder
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD) according to DSM-5 and alcohol dependence according to ICD-10
- Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score of 15 or higher
- At least six heavy drinking days in the last 30 days measured by the Time Line Follow Back (TLFB) method
You will not qualify if you...
- Diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, paranoid psychosis, bipolar disorder, or mental retardation
- Previous or current substance use disorder other than AUD and nicotine use disorder
- History of alcohol withdrawal seizures within the past 5 years
- Alcohol withdrawal symptoms defined as a CIWA-Ar score greater than 9 at screening or during the fMRI session
- Treatment with chlordiazepoxide or other benzodiazepines within the past 30 days
- Other pharmacological treatment for AUD within the past 30 days
- Treatment with GLP-1 analogues within the last 6 months
- Positive urine tests for psychoactive drugs (cocaine, amphetamine, THC, methadone, opioids, benzodiazepines) at screening
- DUDIT score 2 or higher for females, 6 or higher for males
- Contraindications for fMRI scan such as magnetic implants, metal splinters, pacemaker, or claustrophobia
- Females of childbearing potential who are pregnant, breastfeeding, intend to become pregnant within the next month, or not using appropriate contraception
- Positive urine pregnancy test
- Unable to speak or understand Danish
- Any condition that the investigator believes would interfere with trial participation
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Frederiksberg Hospital
Frederiksberg, Denmark, 2000
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Mette K Klausen, MD, PhD
CONTACT
A
Anders Fink-Jensen, Professor
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
1
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