Evaluating an online treatment for military partners of heavy drinkers

A SMART evaluation of an adaptive web-based AUD treatment for service members and their partners

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-10911094

This study is for military spouses who are dealing with a partner's heavy drinking, and it’s testing a friendly online program to help them cut back on their own drinking and improve communication, which might encourage their loved ones to get help.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-10911094 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on military spouses who are in relationships with service members that have heavy drinking issues. It aims to provide an adaptive web-based intervention designed to help these partners reduce their own drinking and improve communication skills, which may encourage their service members to seek help. The study employs a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) design to assess the effectiveness of this intervention and to understand the factors that influence help-seeking behavior among service members. Participants will also share their experiences through interviews to provide qualitative insights into the challenges faced in seeking care.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are military spouses or partners of service members who engage in heavy drinking.

Not a fit: Patients who are not in relationships with heavy drinking service members may not receive any benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health and support for military spouses and their partners, ultimately reducing alcohol abuse and related issues.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using web-based interventions for behavioral health issues, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, 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.
Conditions DiseaseDisorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.