Peripheral CT Fiber and TRPV-1 Stimulation Aims to Reduce AUD-Related Stress and Anxiety

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is often complicated by severe stress and anxiety, which are major drivers of relapse. Current therapeutic strategies frequently fall short in effectively managing these withdrawal-related symptoms. CT fibers, found in mammalian skin, project to the insular cortex and release oxytocin upon light touch, inducing comfort. Similarly, peripheral TRPV-1 channels, stimulated by heat, are crucial for pain transmission and stress response modulation, likely through central oxytocin release. This mechanism presents a novel, non-pharmacological avenue to alleviate AUD-associated psychological distress.

This Phase 1/2 study (NCT02742532, n=63) in human subjects with AUD aims to optimize and test non-pharmacological interventions. Aim 1 & 2 will define optimal parameters for CT fiber stimulation (force, temperature, body location) and TRPV-1 thermal stimulation using commercially available heating pods (body location, 2-4 pods, temperature). In Aim 3, subjects will be randomized to receive either active CT fiber and thermal stimulation or non-physiologic placebo stimulation. Participants will undergo validated mental calculation stressors, with stress, cravings, and anxiety measured via standardized assessments, alongside salivary oxytocin and cortisol levels.

This abstract describes the design and objectives of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, not its results. Therefore, no specific findings, numerical data, or statistical outcomes are available from the provided text. The study's primary goal is to establish optimal stimulation parameters and gather proof-of-concept data on the efficacy of combined CT fiber and TRPV-1 channel activation in modulating stress and anxiety responses in individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder. Future publications are expected to detail the outcomes of these investigations, including any observed changes in subjective measures or biomarker levels like oxytocin and cortisol.