Genetics plus phone-based tracking to understand PTSD and alcohol problems in urban adults
Integrating genetic and ecological momentary assessment technologies to advance models of PTSD-AUD comorbidity
This project uses DNA testing and short phone surveys to learn why PTSD and heavy drinking often happen together in adults from low-income urban communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145711 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would provide a saliva sample for genetic testing and complete short surveys on your phone several times a day during repeated monitoring periods to track mood, stress, and drinking in real time. The team plans to enroll 400 high-risk, inner-city adults through the Grady Trauma Project and follow them with repeated short bursts of intensive phone-based monitoring over the study period. By combining genetic data with moment-to-moment symptom and drinking reports, the project aims to clarify whether PTSD symptoms tend to lead to more drinking, whether drinking worsens PTSD, or whether shared genetic risk explains the link. The study intentionally includes and examines results for Black participants and looks for differences by sex to address gaps in past research.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults from urban, low-income communities with a history of trauma or problematic alcohol use who are willing to provide a DNA sample and complete frequent phone-based surveys are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without trauma exposure or alcohol use concerns, children, or those unwilling to provide genetic samples or participate in phone-based tracking are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify who is at greatest risk for the combination of PTSD and alcohol problems and point toward more personalized prevention or treatment approaches.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies using either genetics or ecological momentary assessment have found links between PTSD symptoms and drinking, but combining both methods in diverse urban samples is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Amstadter, Ananda B — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Amstadter, Ananda B
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 below.