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Alcohol Use DisorderPhase 1NCT05226130

Non-invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Alcohol Use Disorder

A Phase 1 study testing Cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (active comparator) in people with Alcohol Use Disorder, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major health concern amongst Veterans as it causes poor health, lost days at work, impaired psychosocial functioning, and decreased quality of life. Current treatment options for AUD show limited effectiveness, which is exemplified by high relapse rates. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 21 to 65 years, men only
Conditions the study is for
Alcohol Use Disorder
What is being tested?
Cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (active comparator)
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
19 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
2 May 2022to 1 May 2024
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 21 to 65 years
  • Men only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Veteran
  • Male subjects between 21 and 65 years of age
  • Current DSM-5 diagnosis of AUD with at least one functional disability due to alcohol use, current alcohol craving, and current heavy drinking (>4 drinks on any day or >14 drinks per week)
  • Able to forgo consumption of alcohol for 24 hours without any serious discomfort including nausea/vomiting, visual/auditory/tactile hallucinations, or non-essential tremor

Who cannot join

  • Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale (CiWA) score >=9 on the day of the scan (symptoms judged to be due to co-existing anxiety or headache disorders will not be counted toward the total).
  • Currently or recently (within last 90 days) enrolled in abstinence-based treatment program.
  • Evidence of a maladaptive pattern of substance use or abuse other than alcohol one month prior to screening visit.
  • Severe mental illness, e.g., psychosis or bipolar disorder
  • At risk for suicide or homicide
  • History of neurological disorder that might be associated with cognitive dysfunction.
Show all 10Show fewer
  • History of head trauma involving loss of consciousness >24 hours
  • Clinically significant uncontrolled/unstable medical illness or clinically significant surgery within 1 month of the screening visit.
  • MRI-related exclusion criteria: cardiac pacemaker, metal fragments in eyes/skin/body, aortic/aneurysm clips, heart-valve replacement, copper intrauterine device, shunt (ventricular or spinal), neuro/bio-stimulators
  • Vagus nerve stimulation related criteria: history of carotid endarterectomy, severe carotid artery disease (e.g., history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke], congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, known severe coronary artery disease or recent myocardial infarction (within 5 years), history of seizure or syncope (within past year), prior neck surgery.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA

    San Diego, California, 92161-0002

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Non-invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation to Improve Functional Outcomes in Veterans With Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major health concern amongst Veterans as it causes poor health, lost days at work, impaired psychosocial functioning, and decreased quality of life. Current treatment options for AUD show limited effectiveness, which is exemplified by high relapse rates. Chronic heavy drinking results in psychological and physical distress during abstinence, including anxiety, irritability, and general discomfort, which increases the urge to drink to relieve these symptoms. The hypothesis of this study is that noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation (nVNS) can modify the perception of such inner bodily sensations of distress, and consequently reduces the drive to drink for relief. The aim of this study is to establish feasibility and acceptability of applying nVNS as a rehabilitative treatment for AUD in Veterans. The study will also evaluate the effect of nVNS on functional outcomes, quality of life, distress, and craving, and if nVNS alters neural activation patterns in brain regions involved in the perception and awareness of distress and pain.

Read the detailed description

AUD is a serious mental health disorder that affects more than 40% of US military Veterans, presenting a major burden to this population. Relapse rates of AUD are extremely high; over half of Veterans who complete treatment, relapse within 6 months, highlighting the need for improved treatments or differing treatment targets. Chronic, heavy drinking leads to an imbalance in homeostasis resulting in psychological and physical distress during periods of abstinence, and the urge to drink to relieve these symptoms to restore homeostasis.

nVNS is a low-risk form of neuromodulation that has been shown to alleviate anxiety and chronic pain, and to reduce drug and alcohol relapse in animal models. The investigators hypothesize that nVNS attenuates distress-related craving in AUD in humans by modifying the autonomic nervous system and changing the perception of inner bodily sensations of physiological and affective distress. The investigators also hypothesize that nVNS improves functional outcomes and quality of life in Veterans with AUD.

The proposed research will include 16 Veterans who meet for a diagnosis of AUD. Subjects will be randomly assigned to receive nVNS or sham stimulation prior to performing a well-validated functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging task designed to assess neural correlates of physical distress (via a heat stimulus). Subjects will then self-administer nVNS/sham at home twice a day for 7 days and return for a follow-up visit, during which all study components will be repeated. Behavioral assessments of functional disability, quality of life, psychological and physiological distress, and craving will be administered at baseline, after stimulation, and at follow-up.

The aim of the proposed study is to establish feasibility and acceptability of applying nVNS as a rehabilitative treatment for AUD. In addition, the study will evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of nVNS in improving functional outcomes and quality of life, in reducing distress and craving, and in altering neural activation patterns in brain regions involved in the perception and awareness of distress and pain. The proposed work has the potential to lead to innovative, low-risk treatment options with high promise to significantly improve the care and lives of Veterans as there is a need for alternative treatments for AUD. As such, this novel AUD treatment could be particularly beneficial for Veterans who do not tolerate pharmacotherapy, and who have access or cognitive limitations or stigma concerns that act as barriers to psychotherapy.

Being tested
Cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (active comparator), Cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (sham comparator)
Keywords
alcohol use, neuromodulation, neuroimaging, withdrawal, anxiety, quality of life
Medical subject headings
Alcoholism, Alcohol Drinking, Anxiety Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (active comparator)Device

    Active nVNS produces low-voltage electrical signal that generates sensations on the skin on upper anterior cervical area (overlying carotid artery) and that stimulates the vagus nerve.

  • Cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (sham comparator)Device

    Sham nVNS produces low-voltage electrical signal that generates sensations on the skin on upper anterior cervical area (overlying carotid artery) and that does not stimulate the vagus nerve.

Study groups in NCT05226130
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Active cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulationActive comparatorParticipants will be assigned to active transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, received once during each of the study visits and self-administered twice a day for a week.
Receives: Device: Cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (active comparator)
Sham cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulationPlacebo comparatorParticipants will be assigned to sham transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, received once during each of the study visits and self-administered twice a day for a week.
Receives: Device: Cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (sham comparator)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Treatment Acceptability Questionnaire (TAQ)

    The Treatment Acceptability Questionnaire (TAQ) is a self-rating questionnaire used to assess acceptability of a treatment. The TAQ uses a 7-point rating scale ranging from 1 to 7, with lower scores reflecting lower acceptability and a midpoint of 4 indicating neutral acceptability. A rating above the midpoint of the TAQ (i.e., score between 5 and 7) is the established criterion for "acceptable to highly acceptable".

    Measured: Measure administered at study completion (i.e., 1 week after baseline)

  2. Measurement of Feasibility - Recruitment Goal (Data Reflects the Number of Participants Who Were Successfully Enrolled in the Study)

    Treatment feasibility will be evaluated by meeting the proposed recruitment goal of 16 Veterans within 12 months. This aim was measured as the number of study participants who signed the study consent form, completed at least the baseline study visit, and were included in the study analyses.

    Measured: Baseline

  3. Measurement of Feasibility - Treatment Adherence (Number of Times Subjects Self-administered nVNS/Sham Stimulation for 7 Days as Instructed)

    Treatment adherence will be assessed via a daily treatment completion log, and calculated by dividing the total number of times subjects were instructed to self-administer the nVNS/sham stimulation (2x/day for 7 days = 14 times) by the number of times the subjects actually self-administered the stimulation. Treatment feasibility will be evaluated by meeting >75% treatment adherence during the 1-week interval.

    Measured: Baseline to week 1 of 2x daily intervention

  4. Measurement of Feasibility - Subject Retention (Number/Percentage of Subjects Who Return for a Follow-up Visit)

    Treatment feasibility will be evaluated by meeting >75% subject retention at follow-up as measured by the number/percentage of subjects who return for a follow-up visit and complete primary outcome measures and return the device to the study team.

    Measured: Baseline to post treatment, up to 21 days post baseline

  5. Measurement of Feasibility - Serious Adverse Side Effects

    Treatment feasibility will be evaluated by no occurrence of serious adverse side effects (as documented in checklist/daily log, interview at study completion, or otherwise reported by the participant).

    Measured: Baseline to week 1 of 2x daily intervention

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Substance Use Recovery Evaluator (SURE)

    The Substance Use Recovery Evaluator (SURE) assesses the following domains of AUD-related functional outcomes: self-care (mental and physical health), relationships, material resources (stability of housing and occupational resources), and outlook of life. The SURE has been developed for use in substance use disorder populations. The SURE is comprised of 21 items, rated on a 3-point scale, but scored using a 3-point scale. Scores range from 21-63. A higher score indicates better functional outcomes.

    Measured: Baseline to week 1 of 2x daily intervention

  2. WHO Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL-BREF) - Psychological Domain

    The WHO Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL-BREF) assesses quality of life across four domains (physical health, psychological, social relationships, and environment) with a total of 26 questions. The rating scale ranges from 1 to 5 and minimum and maximum values varies between domains (physical health: 7-35, psychological: 6-30, social relationships: 3-15, environment: 8-40). Higher scores denote higher quality of life. Reported here are results from the psychological domain.

    Measured: Baseline to week 1 of 2x daily intervention

  3. Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)

    The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) is a self-report instrument to measure the severity of anxiety and emotional distress. The BAI is a 21-item questionnaire with a 4-point rating scale (0-3), with a higher score reflecting greater anxiety. Total scores range from 0 to 63 with higher scores indicating higher anxiety.

    Measured: Baseline to week 1 of 2x daily intervention

  4. PROMIS Pain Interference

    The PROMIS Pain Interference measures self-reported consequences of pain on relevant aspects of one's life, i.e., the extent to which pain hinders engagement with social, cognitive, emotional, physical, and recreational activities. This questionnaire has 8 items with ratings ranging from "not at all" to "very much". Total score minimum is 8 and the maximum is 40. Higher scores reflect higher interference of pain with level of functioning.

    Measured: Baseline to week 1 of 2x daily intervention

  5. Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ)

    The Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) is 8-item scale that measures cognitive preoccupation with alcohol on a 7-point rating scale ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree". Two items are reverse scored. Minimum score is 8 and maximum is 56. Higher scores reflect greater craving.

    Measured: Baseline to week 1 of 2x daily intervention

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted7 Feb 2022
  2. Study start2 May 2022
  3. Primary completion1 May 2024
  4. Study completion1 May 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Devices include a sham and an active noninvasive vagal nerve stimulator (nVNS). Devices are identical in appearance, and both produce reliable sensation on the skin when applied to the neck area (transcutaneous cervical stimulation). Stimulation duration is approximately 120 seconds for both sham and active devices. Subjects receive the same instructions to self-administer stimulation twice a day for 120 minutes on each side (right and left).
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
19 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05226130
Sponsor's protocol ID
D3629-M
Status last verified
Jun 2025
First submitted
27 Dec 2021
Last updated
3 Jul 2025
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing Cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (active comparator) in people with Alcohol Use Disorder, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 3 Jul 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Treatment Acceptability Questionnaire (TAQ) (time frame: Measure administered at study completion (i.e., 1 week after baseline)). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Jul 2025.

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