Alcohol and Substance Use

Published Research & Citations

IndoPsyCare endeavours to continue conducting research into the latest evidence-based psychological treatments and remain up-to-date on psychological phenomena and breakthroughs.

We are proud to present the research conducted, or contributed to, by our advisors and IndoPsyCare psychologists. We seek to emphasize that whilst members of our team have contributed to these papers, we do not claim rights nor ownership of these publications.

• Wirtz, J., Moritz, S., Gehlenborg, J., Ascone, L., & Kühn, S. (2022). Is less more? Dismantling imaginal retraining and examining the effects of psychoeducation and embodied cognition on craving and alcohol consumption in problem drinkers. A randomized controlled trial. doi: 10.31234/osf.io/xwudv

  Abstract:
  “Background and Aims: Imaginal retraining is effective in reducing alcohol craving in problem drinkers. This study aims to segregate the three main components of the original technique and compare their effectiveness in reducing craving and alcohol consumption.
  
  Design & Participants: The trial consisted of three experimental conditions and one waiting list control group (WLC). A total of 210 participants wishing to limit their alcohol intake were randomly allocated to one of three intervention groups: psychoeducation (PE), simplified imaginal retraining (AAT0) containing arm movements, or enriched imaginal retraining (AAT+) containing emotion induction and embodied cognition.
  
  Findings: Both AAT0 (p < .001) and AAT+ (p = .007) were effective in reducing craving after one month of active training, however only AAT0 was superior in its effectiveness relative to PE (p = .005) and WLC (p = .012). Whilst AAT0 showed reductions in drinking amount relative to PE and WLC, AAT+ yielded only small effects that did not statistically differ from controls.
  
  Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a simplified version of the imaginal retraining technique renders superior results in craving and alcohol reduction. Components of emotion induction and embodied cognition may be dispensable, and the original protocol should be adjusted accordingly.”



• Wirtz, J., Ascone, L., Mellentin, A., Kugler, D., Bremer, T., & Schadow, F. et al. (2022). Transferring the Approach Avoidance Task into Virtual Reality: A Study in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder vs. Healthy Controls. doi: 10.31234/osf.io/fkcxd

  Abstract:
  “Study Aims: To (I) transfer the measurement of approach bias (Apb) related to alcoholic stimuli via the Approach Avoidance Task (AAT) into Virtual Reality (VR), (II) verify whether measuring Apb in VR leads to similar or different results compared to the classical PC-based version, and (III) assess the validity of VR vs. PC-based bias scores in relation to clinical variables.
  
  Findings: Differences in bias scores between patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and healthy controls emerged significantly in VR settings. In contrast, PC-based bias scores did not discriminate between AUD and control groups. VR-based bias scores correlated significantly with impulsivity.
  
  Conclusion: Transferring the AAT into Virtual Reality is feasible, valid, and best implemented without an additional grasping component when using the VR controller. This VR approach represents a viable and ecologically valid alternative to traditional PC-based assessments.”



• Mellentin, A., Nielsen, A., Ascone, L., Wirtz, J., Samochowiec, J., & Kucharska-Mazur, J. et al. (2020). A randomized controlled trial of a virtual reality based, approach-avoidance training program for alcohol use disorder: a study protocol. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1). doi: 10.1186/s12888-020-02739-1

  Abstract:
  “Background: 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.
  
  Methods: The study is implemented as a randomized controlled trial with 204 alcohol use disorder patients from inpatient clinics across Germany, Poland, and Denmark randomized into three groups: stimuli-relevant AATP + treatment as usual (TAU), stimuli-relevant AATP in virtual reality + TAU, or TAU only.
  
  Discussion: This study is the first trial examining the effectiveness of stimuli-relevant AATP delivered in a VR environment, evaluating whether ecologically valid immersion improves relapse prevention and craving reduction.”