Learning and Relapse Risk in Alcohol Dependence

The aim of this project is to assess which behavioral and neuroimaging alterations associated with reward- based learning predict relapse in alcohol- dependent patients within a follow- up period of 12 months. The investigators will explore how these alterations interact with clinical and psychosocial factors which can modify the relapse risk. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) will be used to identify neurofunctional abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems. The investigators will also provide data for genetic analysis and modeling. Patients will be detoxified in an inpatient setting and followed for 12 months using the Time-Line Follow- Back Procedure. Clinical assessments, behavioral paradigms of learning and brain imaging will be carried out within at least 4 half- lives after any psychotropic medication. The investigators will implement and apply functional imaging paradigms assessing Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer and reversal learning tasks and associate model parameters of learning with alcohol craving, intake and prospective relapse risk.