Estradiol Effects on Alcohol Across the Menstrual Cycle

Purpose

This study will provide the first rigorous integrative test of the hypothesis that rapid rises in estradiol (a female hormone) increase the rewarding and disinhibiting effects of alcohol and that such increased sensitivity correlates with increased alcohol use. Identification of the behavioral mechanisms by which estradiol surges can increase alcohol use would provide a critical advancement of neurobiological theory of alcohol abuse in women, an understudied area, as well as provide new directions for personalization of alcohol abuse treatment in women. In this study, naturally-cycling women will be examined daily over their menstrual cycle using an integrative combination of daily ecological assessments of hormone fluctuations and alcohol use along with strategically-timed laboratory tests of their acute sensitivity to the rewarding and disinhibiting effects of a controlled dose of alcohol.

Condition

  • Alcohol Use, Unspecified

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 21 Years and 35 Years
Eligible Genders
Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • female - regular menstrual cycle - consume alcohol at least once per week - no history of drug or alcohol dependence

Exclusion Criteria

  • use of hormone-based medications - irregular menstrual cycle - current pregnancy - primary sensorimotor handicap - frank neurological disorder - pervasive developmental disorder - frank psychosis - diagnosed intellectual disability - medical condition contraindicating alcohol use - substance abuse history (except nicotine) - body mass index (BMI) 30 or above - alcohol abstainer

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
N/A
Intervention Model
Single Group Assignment
Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Study Participants 		Participants in this group will track their menstrual cycle, provide daily saliva samples, and undergo two rounds of alcohol sensitivity testing (with both placebo and alcohol).
  • Drug: Placebo
    Participants will attend two identical laboratory sessions to test sensitivity to the rewarding and disinhibiting effects of a controlled dose of alcohol, once during the early follicular phase and once during the late follicular phase. The test battery consists of measures of rewarding effects and alcohol (or placebo) effects on disinhibition and impulsive choice. The placebo consists of 300 ml of lemon-flavored soda with a small amount (3 ml) of alcohol floated on top.
  • Drug: Alcohol
    Participants will attend two identical laboratory sessions to test sensitivity to the rewarding and disinhibiting effects of a controlled dose of alcohol, once during the early follicular phase and once during the late follicular phase. The test battery consists of measures of rewarding effects and alcohol effects on disinhibition and impulsive choice. The alcohol dose consists of 0.60 g/kg absolute alcohol that produces a peak blood-alcohol concentration of 80 mg/dl. Doses will be mixed with a carbonated, non-caffeinated, lemon-flavored soda and consumed within 10 minutes.

Recruiting Locations

UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science and nearby locations

University Of Kentucky Psychology Research Lab
Lexington, Kentucky 40504
Contact:
Study Coordinator
8592575794
psychresearch@uky.edu

More Details

NCT ID
NCT04595682
Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Mark Fillmore

Study Contact

Study Coordinator
8592575794
psychresearch@uky.edu