Virtual Reality Alcohol Avoidance Training

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Virtual Reality Based, Approach-avoidance Training Program for Alcohol Use Disorder

The approach-avoidance training program (AATP) has shown preliminary promise as an add-on to standard treatment for alcohol dependence. However, knowledge is lacking as to whether the effectiveness of AATP can be enhanced further when performed in a typical drinking situation. The main aim of this study is to investigate whether approach-avoidance training implemented in a virtual reality bar environment is superior to the classical joystick PC-version of the AATP.

The study will be implemented as a randomized controlled trial. A total of 135 consecutively enrolled alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients, recruited from alcohol inpatient clinics in Germany, Poland and Denmark, will be randomized into one of three groups at the start of standard alcohol treatment: group A) stimuli-relevant AATP as usual; group B) stimuli-relevant ATTP in virtual reality, and group C) treatment as usual (TAU; control group). Treatment outcomes will be assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment and 3-month follow-up. Generalized mixed-models will be applied to compare the trajectories of the groups over time on drinking, craving and impulsiveness outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• signed written informed consent
• meeting the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder
• fluent in language of the participating country (German, Polish or Danish)
• completion of detoxification (if needed)
• enrolled in standard treatment within two weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

• any sensory or motor deficits complicating the provision of the AAT (e.g. color-blindness, fine or gross motor deficits in upper extremities)
• meeting diagnostic criteria for other substance use disorders
• severe psychiatric or neurological illness (e.g. psychotic disorders, mental retardation, dementia) or terminal somatic illness