Effects of Cortical Dopamine Regulation on Drinking, Craving, and Cognitive Control

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 21-40 (to focus on an age group still on a trajectory of increasing alcohol
consumption).

2. Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5)
criteria for current Alcohol Use Disorder.

3. Currently not engaged in, and does not want treatment for, alcohol-related problems.

4. Able to read and understand questionnaires and informed consent.

5. Lives within 50 miles of the study site.

6. Able to maintain abstinence from alcohol for two days (without the aid of
detoxification medications), as determined by self report and breathalyzer
measurements.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current DSM-5 diagnosis of any other substance use disorder except Nicotine Use
Disorder.

2. Any psychoactive substance use (except marijuana and nicotine) within the last 30
days, as indicated by self-report and urine drug screen. For marijuana, no use within
the last seven days by verbal report and negative (or decreasing) urine
tetrahydrocannibinol (THC) levels.

3. Current DSM-5 Axis I diagnosis, including major depression, panic disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar affective
disorder, schizophrenia, dissociative disorders, eating disorders, or any other
psychotic or organic mental disorder.

4. Current suicidal ideation or homicidal ideation.

5. Need for maintenance or acute treatment with any psychoactive medication, including
antiepileptic medications.

6. Currently taking medication known to affect alcohol intake (e.g., disulfiram,
naltrexone, acamprosate, topiramate).

7. History of severe alcohol withdrawal (e.g., seizure, delirium tremens), as evidenced
by self-report and assessment with Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for
Alcohol-Revised (CIWA-Ar).

8. Clinically significant medical problems such as cardiovascular, renal,
gastrointestinal, or endocrine problems that would impair participation or limit
medication ingestion.

9. Past alcohol-related medical illness, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, pancreatitis,
or peptic ulcer.

10. Current or past hepatocellular disease, as indicated by verbal report or elevations of
alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) greater than the
upper limit of the normal range at screening.

11. Females of childbearing potential who are pregnant (by urine human chorionic
gonadotropin), nursing, or who are not using a reliable form of birth control.

12. Current charges pending for a violent crime (not including drinking while
intoxicated).

13. Lack of a stable living situation.

14. Presence of ferrous metal in the body, as evidenced by metal screening and
self-report.

15. Severe claustrophobia or morbid obesity that preclude placement in the MRI scanner.

16. History of head injury with > 2 minutes of unconsciousness.