← Back to Search

Smartphone Interventions for Alcoholism

N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By David Gustafson, PhD
Research Sponsored by University of Wisconsin, Madison
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be older than 18 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up baseline, 4, 8, and 12 months
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing two smartphone apps to help people reduce their drinking. One app is for the person who drinks, and the other involves both the drinker and a family member. The study targets people who drink and their families to address increased drinking due to COVID-19. The apps offer tools and support to help reduce alcohol consumption.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for pairs of adults where one is a drinker meeting criteria for risky alcohol use or alcohol use disorder, and the other is a close family member. They must be willing to complete interviews over a year and able to use smartphones. Those with serious mental illness or recent interpersonal violence are excluded.
What is being tested?
The study compares two smartphone-based interventions: ACHESS (drinker-focused) and PartnerCHESS (family-focused), against a control group in reducing drinking-related issues due to COVID-19. Participants form dyads of drinkers with family partners, randomly assigned to one of three groups.
What are the potential side effects?
Since this trial involves smartphone applications rather than medications, traditional side effects are not expected. However, participants may experience stress or emotional discomfort while engaging with the intervention content.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~baseline, 4, 8, and 12 months
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and baseline, 4, 8, and 12 months for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Change in number of patient risky drinking days
Change in psychological distress
Secondary study objectives
Change in % days drinking & other drug use
Change in Covid Vaccination/Infection
Ethanol
+5 more
Other study objectives
Change in Loneliness for both Patient and Partner
Change in Pain for both Patient and Partner: PROMIS-29
Change in number of Days Patient Used Other Drugs for Patient and Partner.
+2 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: FamCHESS-CExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
In the FamCHESS-C arm, drinker and partner will both receive a smartphone with the FamCHESS-C app, which contains ACHESS-C services plus ABCT/ PartnerCHESS services.
Group II: ControlActive Control1 Intervention
Both the drinker and family partner will receive a smartphone with pre-programmed contact information for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Al-Anon, Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA), and crisis hot lines.
Group III: ACHESS-CActive Control1 Intervention
In ACHESS-C, both the drinker and the partner will receive a smartphone, but only the drinker will receive the ACHESS-C app. The partner will receive a smartphone with contact information for standard AUD, SUD, and crisis support.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
PartnerCHESS
2021
N/A
~470

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.
Mechanism Of Action
Side Effect Profile
Prior Approvals
Other Research
Common treatments for alcoholism, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and family-focused interventions, work by modifying behaviors and thought patterns that contribute to alcohol use. CBT, often delivered through individual-focused digital support like smartphone apps, helps patients identify and change harmful behaviors and thoughts. Family-focused interventions involve family members to create a supportive environment that reinforces abstinence and addresses relational issues. These approaches are essential for alcoholism patients as they offer structured, evidence-based methods to reduce drinking and support sustained recovery.
Family interventions in the treatment of alcohol and drug problems.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)NIH
835 Previous Clinical Trials
1,082,364 Total Patients Enrolled
456 Trials studying Alcoholism
823,386 Patients Enrolled for Alcoholism
University of Wisconsin, MadisonLead Sponsor
1,228 Previous Clinical Trials
3,199,124 Total Patients Enrolled
12 Trials studying Alcoholism
4,212 Patients Enrolled for Alcoholism
David Gustafson, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison
2 Previous Clinical Trials
536 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Alcoholism Research Study Groups: FamCHESS-C, Control, ACHESS-C
~98 spots leftby Nov 2025