tAN for Substance Use Disorder

Purpose

The study will involve a 5-day tAN treatment to attenuate alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) and alter resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) between OFC and striatum in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Enrolled participants will wear the tAN device on-site (at The Menninger Clinic) for the 5-day detox treatment period. Participants with AUD will be single-blinded randomized into 2 groups - a treatment group (active tAN) and a placebo group (sham tAN). Each group will consist of five separate time points - admission, screening, baseline, tAN treatment, and post tAN treatment. Clinical measures collected before, during, and after treatment will include alcohol withdrawal severity, craving, benzodiazepine usage, and assessments of depression and suicidal behaviors. Participants will undergo MRI scans before and after the treatment period to assess changes in brain connectivity and their relationship to clinical outcomes.

Conditions

  • Alcohol Use Disorder
  • Alcohol Abuse
  • Substance Use Disorders
  • Substance Use Disorders Alcohol Use Withdrawal State

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 64 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  1. Male or female (evenly recruited) aged 18-64 years old 2. Meeting DSM-5 criteria of moderate or above AUD at screening using the structured clinical interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) 3. Demonstration of at least moderate risk of alcohol use at screening using the WHO-ASSIST 4. Demonstration of high risk for moderate to severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome (Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale [PAWSS] > 4 at admission) 5. Demonstration of severe withdrawal symptoms (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale, Revised [CIWA-Ar] > 15 at screening) 6. Positive urine test for alcohol at screening 7. Be able to provide written informed consent 8. Female subjects must be non-nursing and not pregnant 9. Meet the MRI safety screening form provided by the Center for Advanced MR Imaging (CAMRI) at BCM.

Exclusion Criteria

  1. In the opinion of the clinician and the research team at admission, be expected to fail to complete the study protocol due to probably relocation from The Menninger Clinic area or not tolerable to receive tAN 2. Current use of tobacco 3. Is pregnant or nursing 4. Contraindications to MRI (pacemaker, cochlear implants, metal in eyes, other metal implants, etc.) 5. Do not meet the pre-screening MRI questions provided by the Center for Advanced MR Imaging (CAMRI) at BCM

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
This study is designed as a randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two treatment groups: (1) Active tAN and (2) Sham tAN
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Single (Participant)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Active tAN
Participants will have the device applied on-site (at the Menninger Clinic) and will be required to wear the device for a minimum of 4 hours of stimulation per day. Study assessments will be collected at the time of, prior to, and at the conclusion of each tAN treatment session. Active tAN stimulation will be administered in addition to the participant's standard of care treatment.
  • Device: Sparrow Ascent
    The Sparrow Ascent is an FDA-cleared (K230796) wearable, battery-operated, neurostimulation system designed to transcutaneously stimulate nerves on and around the auricle. The system is comprised of a Patient Controller, cable, and 24-hour disposable earpiece.
    Other names:
    • Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation
Sham Comparator
Sham tAN
Participants will have the device applied on-site (at the Menninger Clinic) and will be required to wear the device for a minimum of 4 hours of stimulation per day. Study assessments will be collected at the time of, prior to, and at the conclusion of each sham tAN treatment session. Sham tAN stimulation will be administered in addition to the participant's standard of care treatment.
  • Device: Sparrow Ascent (Sham)
    Participants will have the earpiece applied and the cable connected to the Patient Controller, but tAN stimulation will not be turned on. The sham device has an identical appearance to the active device.
    Other names:
    • Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation (Sham)

Recruiting Locations

The Menninger Clinic
Houston, Texas 77035
Contact:
Elisabeth Stevens
713-275-2896
estevens@menninger.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Spark Biomedical, Inc.

Study Contact

Hyuntaek Oh, PhD
(713) 275-5019
hyuntaek.oh@bcm.edu