Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to reduce hazardous drinking in people living with HIV

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for HIV+ hazardous drinkers: A randomized clinical trial

['FUNDING_R01'] · SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11162300

This project offers a phone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy program to help adults with HIV who drink at hazardous levels cut down and cope with emotional triggers.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorSYRACUSE UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (SYRACUSE, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11162300 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If you are an adult living with HIV who drinks at hazardous levels, researchers may invite you to join a randomized program. Participants are randomly assigned to receive phone-delivered ACT sessions adapted for alcohol use or to a comparison condition, and they complete regular surveys and check-ins about drinking, mood, and HIV care. The therapy teaches skills to change how you relate to unwanted thoughts and feelings so you rely less on alcohol to cope. The team will follow participants over time to track drinking, mental health, and HIV treatment outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults (21+) living with HIV who report hazardous levels of alcohol use and can participate in telephone-delivered therapy are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People who do not drink at hazardous levels, are under 21, cannot take part in phone sessions, or need immediate intensive substance use or psychiatric care may not benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: This approach could help people with HIV reduce risky drinking, improve mental health, and support better HIV treatment outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous alcohol interventions for people with HIV have had limited success, and while ACT has shown promise for other mental health and behavioral issues, it has not yet been tested in a full-scale randomized trial specifically for alcohol use.

Where this research is happening

SYRACUSE, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.