ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02108080Updated Oct 13, 2026

Characterization Imaging Instruments in Alcoholics and Non-Alcoholics

An observational study in Alcohol Dependence, Alcohol Drinking and Alcohol-Related Disorders, sponsored by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 99 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-13.

Sponsored by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) · Observational

Updated Oct 9, 2026Now CompletedPrimary completion moved+3 moreGo to Updates ↓
Study type
Observational
Model
Case-control
Time perspective
Other
Enrollment
389
Ages
18 Years to 99 Years
Sex
All
01

Where this study stands

Counted across the records on this site · 2026-11-12

Among 70 studies in Alcoholism by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) — 9 open to participants now, 9 under way, none of them phase 3. Alcoholism · National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

Enrollment
8th of 17
389 · median 98
Started
2014
with 4 others
Observational
15 of 70
3 open now
Registered
47th of 70
by date

Among the 70 studies in Alcoholism by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), this one is the 8th largest by enrollment of the 17 observational ones, is one of 5 that started in 2014, is one of 15 observational ones, and was the 47th registered.

By phase

70 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.

Phase 231 · 2 open
Observationalthis study15 · 3 open
Phase 48 · 1 open
Phase 17 · 1 open
No phase3 · 0 open
Other kind2 · 1 open
Phase 1/22 · 1 open
Phase 2/31 · 0 open
Phase 31 · 0 open

By the year they started

First in 1997; this study’s year is marked. 5 started in 2014.

Size and results

Median enrollment 100 across the 50 interventional studies, 98 across the 17 observational. Of the 57 that completed or were terminated, 19 (33%) have results posted.

Watch this landscapeDownload CSVWith an account: a weekly mail of what changed among 70 studies in Alcoholism by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), or all of them as a file.
02

Study summary

Background:

- People with alcoholism have differences in their brains compared with healthy people. People who are dependent on alcohol also perform differently on behavioral tasks. Researchers want to find out more about these differences. They also want to see if these differences are related to DNA.

Objective:

- To see if differences in brain structure relate to personality and behavior differences in people with and without alcohol dependence.

Eligibility:

- Adults age 18 and older.

Design:

  • Participants will visit the NIH Clinical Center once during the study.
  • Participants will be screened with a medical history, EKG, and physical exam. They will give blood and urine samples and undergo a psychiatric interview.
  • Participants will be asked about their alcohol drinking, to see if they have an alcohol use disorder.
  • Participants will play three computerized games. Some will play these games inside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.
  • MRI: strong magnetic field and radio waves take pictures of the brain. Participants lie on a table that slides in and out of a cylinder. They will be in the scanner for about 90 minutes. They may lie still for up to 20 minutes at a time. The scanner makes loud knocking noises. They will get earplugs.
Read the detailed description

Objective

The purpose of this protocol is to obtain a standard set of imaging assessments, referred to hereinafter as Characterization Imaging Instruments for Addiction Neuroimaging Assessments (CII-ANiA), including but not limited to brain behavioral, structural, functional, and connectivity (structural and functional) information, on all NIAAA research participants: a) to determine how individual differences in brain structure and function relate to various stages of alcohol use disorder, generalized trait personality, and behavior differences (as assessed by psychometric questionnaire instruments and behavioral measures); and b) to determine whether these individual differences relate specifically to genetic polymorphisms in genes governing neurotransmitter activity. Thus, our goal of the CII-ANiA is to identify the brain (structural and functional), behavioral, genetic, and other phenotypic factors that are associated with alcoholism.

Study population

Non-treatment seeking adult volunteers and inpatient participants with alcohol use disorder (AUDs). Inpatient AUDs refer to individuals diagnosed with alcohol dependence based on DSM-IV-RT criteria or Alcohol Use Disorder as determined by DSM-5 criteria.

Design

This study will require one or more visit(s) that will include MRI scan(s) (if the participant is determined eligible) consisting of a whole brain structural MRI, Diffusion Tensor MRI, Resting State functional MRI (rs-fMRI), several task-based functional MRIs, while performing computerized motivational, cognitive, and emotional tasks.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures of interest include differences in brain structural data and in blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signals collected cross-sectionally and/or longitudinally at various stages of alcohol use disorder. Imaging outcomes will be measured with standard techniques and analyzed using established image analysis approaches and software tools such as AFNI, SPM, FSL, DTI Studio, etc. In this effort, we will also utilize BOLD signals elicited by each task which have been shown to be associated with various aspects of neurocircuitries in the phases of addiction. To this end, the outcome measures of interest will include, but will not be not limited to, BOLD signals for the binge/intoxication phase in the nucleus accumbens, thalamus and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; for the withdrawal/negative emotionality phase in the amygdala, hippocampus, and ventral striatum; and for the preoccupation/anticipation phase in the prefrontal cortex, ventral striatum, and insula. Other primary outcome measures include structural and functional connectivity in salience, default mode, and executive control networks associated with the above-mentioned addiction phases, respectively. Secondary outcome measures include comparisons of the genetic, behavioral and phenotypic factors to imaging and behavioral data acquired across other protocols.

03

Conditions studied

  • Alcohol Dependence
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Alcohol-Related Disorders
  • Alcoholism
  • Brain Mapping

Keywords

  • Alcohol
  • Biomarkers
  • Adults
  • Phenotype
  • Imaging
  • Natural History
04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 99 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

The study population will consist of outpatient and inpatient participants who are 18 years of age or older who are eligible for or enrolled in other NIAAA protocols. The participant s AUD status at the time of this study will be evaluated as part of the screening procedures of the NIAAA screening protocol 14-AA-0181. The participant s status will be determined using either the DSM-IV-TR or the DSM-5, which also classifies present AUD as mild, moderate, or severe.

Eligibility criteria

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

All adult participants must be:

  • Age 18 years or older,
  • Have been pre-screened, determined eligible for any NIAAA study, or enrolled in any

NIAAA study (including 14-AA-0181).

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

As this is a natural history protocol, there are no exclusionary criteria for this study.

Participants should have been tested negative prior to the time of consent and study procedures using an alcohol breathalyzer, urine drug (UDT) and, when applicable, pregnancy tests. Individuals with a positive breath alcohol concentration (BrAC), UDT, or pregnancy test will be re-scheduled or withdrawn from the study.

Upon completion of the consent, the participant will be invited for the study session. On the study session day, the following exclusion criteria will be applied.

-Exclusion criteria for MR scan*

  • Positive BrAC#,
  • Positive urine drug test (UDT) # for benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamines, and opiates for outpatients. Positive UDT for benzodiazepines is not exclusionary for the inpatients. It is common that the inpatients who are treated for AUD withdrawal are treated with benzodiazepines. Positive THC would also not be exclusionary for this study since it tends to be detected over the long period of time after use. However, we will make note of these for the data analysis purposes.
  • Task performance (behavioral, fMRI) only: cleared based on neuromotor examination,
  • Presence of ferromagnetic objects in the body that are for MRI of the head (pacemakers or other implanted electrical devices, brain stimulators, some types of dental implants, aneurysm clips, metallic prostheses, permanent eyeliner, implanted delivery pump, or shrapnel fragments),
  • Cannot lie comfortably flat on back for up to 2 hours in the MRI scanner,
  • Uncomfortable in enclosed spaces (has claustrophobia) such that they would feel discomfort in the scanner,
  • Women: are pregnant#,
  • Are left-handed.
  • Inpatient participants with alcohol use disorder who have symptoms of alcohol withdrawal as indicated by the most recent measurement within the past 30 days, measured by the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA-Ar) score > 8.

    • Subjects excluded from MR scan may still perform the behavioral tasks which would otherwise be performed in the scanner, if they qualify for behavioral tasks. To avoid undue discomfort, burden, and inconvenience this information, if available, can be gathered from routine clinical care or other NIAAA clinical studies and data.

      • Participants who meet this exclusion criterion will not participate in any part of this study at the time. They will be re-scheduled for a future date(s) when they do not meet any of the exclusionary criterion.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

05

Study design

Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Other
Enrollment
389 participants (actual)

Groups and cohorts

  • Inpatient AUD

    This group includes individuals who are in the alcohol use treatment.

  • Outpatient

    This group includes individuals who are not seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Addiction Neuroimaging Assessments & blood oxygenation level

    Outcome measures of interest include differences in brain structural data and in blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signals collected cross-sectionally and /or longitudinally at various stages of alcohol use disorder

    Time frame: Multiple sessions

  2. Addiction Neuroimaging Assessments

    structural and functional connectivity in salience, default mode, and executive control networks

    Time frame: Multiple sessions

Secondary outcomes

  1. AFNI, FSL, SPM and FreeSurfer software

    Secondary outcome measures are to compare the genetic, behavioral and phenotypic factors to imaging and behavioral data acquired across other protocols

    Time frame: MRI STUDY VISIT

07

Study locations

1 site
  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
    Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Andrews MM, Meda SA, Thomas AD, Potenza MN, Krystal JH, Worhunsky P, Stevens MC, O'Malley S, Book GA, Reynolds B, Pearlson GD. Individuals family history positive for alcoholism show functional magnetic resonance imaging differences in reward sensitivity that are related to impulsivity factors. Biol Psychiatry. 2011 Apr 1;69(7):675-83. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.09.049. Epub 2010 Dec 3. PubMed 21126735 ↗
  • Baker KG, Harding AJ, Halliday GM, Kril JJ, Harper CG. Neuronal loss in functional zones of the cerebellum of chronic alcoholics with and without Wernicke's encephalopathy. Neuroscience. 1999;91(2):429-38. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4522(98)90664-9. PubMed 10366000 ↗
  • Bjork JM, Hommer DW, Grant SJ, Danube C. Impulsivity in abstinent alcohol-dependent patients: relation to control subjects and type 1-/type 2-like traits. Alcohol. 2004 Oct-Nov;34(2-3):133-50. doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2004.06.012. PubMed 15902907 ↗
09

Updates

1 registry update since Sep 25, 2026
Status
Recruiting→Completed
changed Oct 9, 2026
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2026→Jan 21, 2026 (actual)
Oct 9, 2026
Study completion
Dec 31, 2026→Jan 21, 2026 (actual)
Oct 9, 2026
Enrollment
1000 (estimated)→389 (actual)
Oct 9, 2026
Eligibility
Maximum age none→99 Years
Oct 9, 2026
Show all 1 update
  1. Oct 9, 2026
    Recruiting→Completed
    Primary completion Dec 31, 2026→Jan 21, 2026 (now actual)
    Study completion Dec 31, 2026→Jan 21, 2026 (now actual)
    Enrollment 1000 (estimated)→389 (actual)
    Eligibility Maximum age none→99 Years
    + 4 other changes: verification date, contact details, site details and references

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02108080
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 9, 2014
Start date
Jul 10, 2014
Primary completion
Jan 21, 2026
Completion
Jan 21, 2026
Last update
Oct 13, 2026

Study contacts

Nancy Diazgranados, M.D.
principal investigator · National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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