CBT-based text messages to reduce PTSD symptoms and risky drinking
Official title: Testing the efficacy of a CBT-enhanced text message intervention to reduce symptom burden in individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and co-occurring hazardous drinking
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11162325 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Short, self-directed cognitive-behavioral text messages aim to help adults with PTSD symptoms who also drink heavily reduce symptoms and risky drinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $455,590 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA028776-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162325 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with PTSD symptoms who drink at hazardous levels and who can receive text messages on a mobile phone are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without PTSD or hazardous drinking, those needing intensive in-person treatment for severe alcohol dependence, or those without a phone or text access may not benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
This project sends brief, CBT-informed messages by text to adults with PTSD symptoms and hazardous drinking to teach coping skills and reduce drinking-related harm. The program is self-directed and delivered remotely so you can get support without in-person therapy. The messages use evidence-based CBT strategies and draw on cognitive psychology ideas like how messages are framed to encourage healthier choices. The team refined the approach after a promising pilot and is now testing the intervention more broadly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer an easy-to-access, low-burden way to lessen PTSD symptoms and risky alcohol use for many people who do not get traditional therapy.
How similar studies have gone: A prior pilot from the same team showed promising findings, but text-delivered CBT for this general public population is still relatively new and not widely tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lindgren, Kristen P — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Lindgren, Kristen P
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.