Residual Effects of Intoxication on Student Performance

Phase 2

Completed

Conditions: Alcoholic Intoxication
Neurobehavioral Manifestations

Interventions: Drug: Alcohol
Other: Placebo

Registration Number: NCT00183170

Lead Sponsor: Boston University

Brief Summary: The primary goal of the study is to assess the residual effects of heavy drinking on academic performance. The investigators will also explore whether these effects differ by family history of alcohol abuse and hangover symptoms, as well as compare males and females with respect to these effects. The primary hypothesis is that intoxication (0.10 g% blood alcohol concentration \[BAC\]) with an alcoholic beverage impairs next-day academic performance, as measured by scores on quizzes, standardized academic achievement tests, and standardized neurobehavioral assessments. The secondary hypothesis is that family-history-positive individuals will show a greater performance decrement the day after heavy drinking than family-history-negative individuals.

Detailed Description: The primary goal of the study is to assess the effect of heavy drinking on next day academic performance. A placebo-controlled 2-period crossover design will be used to compare the effects of dosing status on academic performance, with participants serving as their own controls. Participants are dosed on two separate occasions, once with non-alcoholic beverage and the other time with alcoholic beverage sufficient to raise blood alcohol to 0.10 g%. The morning after dosing, participants' academic performance is measured using a standardized achievement test (Graduate Record Exam). Participants' cognition is tested using the the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT). Data on participants' demographics, family history of drinking problems and alcohol use. We are also collecting information on hangover symptoms and sleep quality the morning after dosing, in addition to participants' self ratings of academic performance. The procedure is conducted twice with one week in between, switching the individuals' dosing status, presenting a different, but comparable lecture and reading, and administering a different quiz based on the new lecture and reading and a different, but comparable standardized achievement exam. This design is intended to test the hypothesis that intoxication (0.10 g% BAC) with alcoholic beverage impairs next-day academic performance.

Participation involves a total of five sessions over a two week period. Participants are undergraduates who volunteer and meet inclusion criteria. Prior to enrollment, volunteers are screened to ensure they meet initial eligibility criteria. Eligible volunteers receive written instructions regarding participation and are scheduled for the study sessions. Participants report to the study site on the first session for an additional screening by the study physician and go through the informed consent process. Eligible participants report back the next week for their first dosing night where they receive several drinks (alcohol or placebo) sufficient to raise their Breath Alcohol Level (BrAC) to 0.10 g%; the amount of beverage administered is based on their body weight. Those receiving placebo receive the same total quantity of beverage as those receiving alcohol. Both alcohol-dosed and placebo-dosed participants are breath-tested after they have completed their required dose. Participants sleep at the study site and are monitored overnight. The next morning they are awakened and are escorted to the exam room for the performance trials. They return the next week for the second dosing night/dosing morning, and receive either alcohol or placebo, depending on what was administered the previous week, and take different but comparable performance tests.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 239

Inclusion Criteria

Ages 21-30
Currently enrolled in college/university
Have had 5 or more drinks (4 if female) in the last 30 days
Score less than a 5 on the Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (SMAST)
No self-reported history of counseling or treatment for substance abuse
Not taking any medication contraindicated for alcohol use or that disrupts sleep
Doesn't have a health condition contraindicated for alcohol use
Has not been diagnosed with a primary sleep disorder
Has not been diagnosed with a mental health disorder
Not currently working night shifts at a job
Not routinely taking medications that affect sleep
If female, is using reliable birth control when necessary
Not a regular smoker
Likes the taste of beer

Exclusion Criteria

Less than age 21 and greater than age 30
Not currently enrolled in college/university
Hasn't had 5 or more drinks (4 if female) in the last 30 days (not a regular drinker)
Score greater than or equal to 5 on the Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (SMAST)
Self-reported history of counseling or treatment for substance abuse
Taking any medication contraindicated for alcohol use or that disrupts sleep
Has a health condition contraindicated for alcohol use
Has been diagnosed with a primary sleep disorder
Has been diagnosed with a mental health disorder
Currently working night shifts at a job
Routinely taking medications that affect sleep
Is a regular smoker
Is currently pregnant or nursing
If female, is not using reliable birth control when necessary
Not a regular drinker
Dislikes the taste of beer

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Alcohol then Placebo	Placebo	Participants report for their first dosing night where they receive several alcohol drinks. After a wash out period of 1 week they then return and receive several placebo drinks. Participants sleep at the study site, are monitored overnight, and the next morning are awakened and escorted to the performance trials.
Placebo then Alcohol	Placebo	Participants report for their first night where they receive several placebo drinks. After a wash out period of 1 week they then return and receive several alcohol drinks. Participants sleep at the study site, are monitored overnight, and the next morning are awakened and escorted to the performance trials.
Alcohol then Placebo	Alcohol	Participants report for their first dosing night where they receive several alcohol drinks. After a wash out period of 1 week they then return and receive several placebo drinks. Participants sleep at the study site, are monitored overnight, and the next morning are awakened and escorted to the performance trials.
Placebo then Alcohol	Alcohol	Participants report for their first night where they receive several placebo drinks. After a wash out period of 1 week they then return and receive several alcohol drinks. Participants sleep at the study site, are monitored overnight, and the next morning are awakened and escorted to the performance trials.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self-reported Residual Effects of Heavy Drinking	next day	This outcome will be measured by the afternoon total mood disturbance score. This is part of the Profile of Mood States Questionnaire (POMS). POMS is a 35 item instrument with Likert responses from 0 to 4 where 0=not at all and 4=extremely. Range of scores can be 0 to 140, lower scores are more favorable.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cognitive Function in Response to Heavy Drinking	next day	This outcome measure will be assessed using the Visual Span Test- Backwards (VST-B). This is the mean maximum span of words repeated backwards correctly. Higher scores are more favorable
Academic Function in Response to Heavy Drinking	next day	This outcome will be measured by the mean Graduate Record Exam (GRE) quantitative score. The quantitative score can range from 200-800. Higher scores are more favorable.
Reaction Time Affected by Residual Effects of Heavy Drinking	next day	This outcome will be measured with the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) for reaction time in mean milliseconds (ms). Lower reaction times are more favorable.
Effectiveness of Psychomotor Vigilance Testing as a Fitness-for-duty Test	next day	This outcome will be assessed with the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT) in median milliseconds. The 10-min PVT measures sustained or vigilant attention by recording response times to visual (or auditory) stimuli that occur at random inter-stimulus intervals. Lower number of milliseconds are associated with greater vigilant attention.