Improving access to alcohol use disorder medications for patients with mental illness
Official title: External Facilitation to Increase Prescribing of AUD Medications in the Psychiatric Setting
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11036698 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to help doctors who treat mental health issues, like depression and PTSD, to better prescribe medications that can help with alcohol use problems, so that patients can get the support they need more easily.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $301,281 |
| NIH project number | 1R34AA032051-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11036698 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with major mental illness who also have alcohol use disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a diagnosis of major mental illness or alcohol use disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the prescribing of FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder (AUD) among patients with major mental illness (MMI) such as depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. It addresses the significant gap in care where these effective treatments are underutilized in psychiatric settings. By leveraging the established relationships between patients and their psychiatric providers, the study seeks to integrate AUD medications into routine psychiatric care, making them more accessible to those who need them. The approach involves training and facilitating prescribers in psychiatric settings to offer these medications effectively.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment outcomes for patients with co-occurring alcohol use disorder and major mental illness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that integrating alcohol use disorder treatments into psychiatric care can be effective, indicating a promising approach for this study.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bennett, Melanie E. — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Bennett, Melanie E.
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.