Abstract
BackgroundProblem drinkers have poor inhibitory control (disinhibition). Previous studies have demonstrated that various forms of ‘inhibition training’ can reduce alcohol consumption in the laboratory and at short-term follow-up, but their longer-term efficacy and mechanisms of action are unknown. In this phase 2 randomised controlled trial we will contrast the effects of three forms of inhibition training and a control intervention, delivered via the Internet in multiple sessions over four weeks, on alcohol consumption in heavy drinkers.Methods/designHeavy drinkers who are interested in reducing their alcohol consumption will receive a brief intervention and will monitor their own alcohol intake for one week before being randomised to one of four treatment groups: 1. General inhibition training; 2. Cue-Specific inhibition training; 3. Alcohol No-Go training; or 4. Control. They will complete up to 14 sessions of training via the Internet over a four-week period, and will be followed-up for a further six weeks after the end of the training period. Primary outcome measures are reductions in alcohol consumption and heavy drinking days. The number of abstinent days is a secondary outcome measure. We will also investigate changes in inhibitory control and automatic alcohol affective associations in response to training.DiscussionThis study will establish if web-based inhibition training can help problem drinkers to reduce their alcohol intake, and it will identify which form(s) of inhibition training are most effective.Trial registationTrial Registation number: ISRCTN55671858.
Highlights
This study will establish if web-based inhibition training can help problem drinkers to reduce their alcohol intake, and it will identify which form(s) of inhibition training are most effective
We predict that Alcohol No-Go training will cause changes in automatic alcohol affective associations [29,34], whereas General inhibition training will lead to non-specific improvements in inhibitory control [18], and Cue-Specific inhibition training will lead to improvements in inhibitory control that are specific to alcohol cues [28]
This study protocol describes the design of a randomised controlled trial to determine the efficacy of three different types of inhibition training delivered via the Internet for the reduction of alcohol consumption in heavy drinkers
Summary
Disinhibition - the inability to suppress, delay or change a response that is no longer required or is inappropriate - is a core feature of both impulsivity and executive functioning [1,2]. Other studies demonstrated that pairing inhibition with alcohol-related cues during a modified GNGT did not directly improve disinhibition (measured with the SST), but it did change affective associations with alcohol and led to reduced alcohol consumption after a one week follow-up [29,30]; see [31]). These recent laboratory studies suggest that training of inhibitory control using modified versions of the SST and GNGT can lead to reductions in alcohol consumption, the underlying mechanisms may differ across tasks. We predict that Alcohol No-Go training will cause changes in automatic alcohol affective associations [29,34], whereas General inhibition training will lead to non-specific improvements in inhibitory control [18], and Cue-Specific inhibition training will lead to improvements in inhibitory control that are specific to alcohol cues [28]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
