Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a widespread burden on public health across the world and constitutes a major risk factor for disability and mortality. In Denmark, approximately 15% of the population has a harmful use of alcohol and 3% fulfill the criteria for AUD and excessive consumption of alcohol cost the Danish society 1.7 billion EUR per year. Unfortunately, AUD has a chronic and progressive course and is inefficiently treated. In the 1950s through the 1960s, before the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, several studies were carried out evaluating the effects of classic psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD on addiction. A recent meta-analysis reviewed six randomized controlled trials in AUD from the 1950-1970s (n = 536) and found odds in favor of abstinence (OR 19.6) after a single administration of LSD. Recently in 2015, a small (n=10) proof of concept study in patients with AUD evaluated the effects of psilocybin and found significant and persisting reductions in drinking days and heavy drinking days. While these preliminary results are certainly encouraging, a larger placebo-controlled study is needed to evaluate treatment efficacy of psilocybin for AUD.
The 7 Tesla (7T) MRI projects are focused on the benefit of 7T MRI in the clinic. Among other promising contributions when compared to conventional clinical MRI (1.5 or 3T), structural images from 7T MRI have the benefit of increased spatial resolution and contrast, which may help radiologists detect and delineate smaller and more precise details.