Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention: Alcohol Dependence

描述(由申请人提供)：在我们的第一阶段资助中，我们展示了虚拟现实线索反应系统(VRCR)用于酒精评估的可行性，在40名虐待和/或依赖的成年参与者的样本中，通过创建虚拟现实环境(VRE)，平均增加了450%的主观酒精渴望。这项第二阶段研究将VR线索暴露/反应纳入到基于复发预防的治疗中。虚拟现实复发预防(VRRP)环境将结合计算机生成的视频图像，这些视频图像描述了饮酒提示(例如酒精饮料、酒瓶、啤酒)和与饮酒相关的社交互动(例如，在社交环境中被提供一杯饮料，在出售啤酒的便利店/加油站走来走去，在酒吧/餐馆与服务员互动)，呈现在与真实世界体验一致的上下文中。最近的一项发展将允许将气味线索(如啤酒、葡萄酒、白酒、食物、香烟烟雾)整合到VR环境中。VRRP的可行性将在一项针对酒精依赖者的门诊临床治疗试验中进行测试。60名酒精依赖的成年人将被招募并随机接受VRRP或传统的复发预防(TRP)。一项为期12周的治疗试验将在治疗和随访期间(1个月、3个月和6个月)比较VRRP和TRP在酒精使用、呼吸酒精水平和禁酒率方面的差异。此外，所有参与者将在基线、第六周和第十二周使用VR线索反应性评估环境评估线索反应性(渴望和生理)。该项目的总体目标是开发和测试VRRP，并开发负担得起的交钥匙VRRP系统，该系统将用于药物滥用项目、个人治疗师和酒精研究人员对酒精和其他滥用药物的商业使用。我们建议在第二阶段开发一种用于酒精依赖的虚拟现实复发预防(VRRP)治疗系统。VRRP将计算机图形与感官输入设备相结合，包括：跟踪设备、可视头盔显示器(HMD)、气味和定向音频，使参与者沉浸在计算机生成的虚拟环境中。将进行一项对照临床治疗研究，将VRRP与传统的复发预防进行比较。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In our Phase 1 grant, we demonstrated the feasibility of a virtual reality cue reactivity system (VRCR) for alcohol assessment by producing virtual reality environments (VRE's) that increased subjective craving for alcohol on average 450%, in a sample of 40 abusing and/or dependent adult participants. This Phase II study incorporates VR cue exposure/reactivity into a relapse prevention based treatment. Virtual reality relapse prevention (VRRP) environments will combine computer generated video images depicting drinking cues (e.g. alcoholic beverages, liquor bottles, beer) and drinking related social interactions (e.g. being offered a drink in a social setting, walking around a convenience/gas station that sells beer, interacting with a waiter at a bar/restaurant) presented in contexts that are congruent with real world experiences. A recent development will allow the incorporation of scent cues (e.g. beer, wine, liquor, food, cigarette smoke) into the VR environments. The feasibility of VRRP will be tested in an outpatient clinical treatment trial with alcohol dependent drinkers. Sixty alcohol dependent adults will be recruited and randomized to either VRRP or traditional relapse prevention (TRP). A twelve week treatment trial will compare VRRP vs. TRP on alcohol use, breath alcohol levels, and abstinence rates across treatment and follow-up periods (one, three, and six months). In addition, all participants will be assessed for cue reactivity (craving and physiological) at baseline, week six, and week twelve using a VR cue reactivity assessment environment. The overarching aim of this project is to develop and test VRRP, and develop affordable turnkey, VRRP system that will be commercially available to substance abuse programs, individual therapists, and alcohol researchers for alcohol and other drugs of abuse. We proposed to develop in Phase II, a virtual reality relapse prevention (VRRP) treatment system for alcohol dependence. VRRP will combine computer graphics with sensory input devices including: tracking devices, visual head mounted displays (HMD), scents and directional audio to immerse participants in a computer-generated virtual environment. A controlled clinical treatment study comparing VRRP to traditional relapse prevention will be conducted.