Mobile app to help post‑9/11 veterans sleep better and drink less
Official title: A Mobile App to Address Co-Occurring Sleep Problems and Heavy Alcohol Use among Veterans Outside of Care Settings
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11170407 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smartphone program for post‑9/11 veterans who are not in care that aims to improve sleep and reduce heavy drinking using sleep therapy plus brief alcohol support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $234,030 |
| NIH project number | 5R34AA030868-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170407 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Post‑9/11 veterans who have insomnia and drink heavily or have alcohol use disorder, who are not currently engaged in formal treatment and who can use a smartphone, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans already receiving active inpatient or clinic‑based treatment for severe alcohol problems, those who need immediate higher‑level care, or those without smartphone access are unlikely to benefit from this app‑based program.
What this research studies
You would use an app called Insomnia Coach that has been enhanced with brief, evidence‑based alcohol help so it targets both sleep problems and heavy drinking. The team will first beta test the app to make sure it works well for veterans, then run a small randomized trial where veterans use the app and complete short surveys and phone check‑ins. Everything is primarily delivered through the smartphone so you can take part from home. The researchers will track changes in sleep, drinking, and related symptoms before and after using the app.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could help veterans outside of care get better sleep and cut down on heavy drinking without having to visit a clinic.
How similar studies have gone: Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and brief alcohol interventions have both shown benefit separately, and mobile CBT‑I and brief alcohol apps have shown promise, but combining them for untreated veterans is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pedersen, Eric R. — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Pedersen, Eric R.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A mobile app to help veterans with sleep problems and alcohol use.
This study is testing a new mobile app to help post-9/11 veterans who have trouble with drinking and sleep but aren't getting any help, using friendly techniques to make it easier for them to feel better and improve their lives.
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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.