Phone-based program to help young adults with ADHD cut back on risky drinking
Developing a mobile-health intervention to reduce problematic alcohol use in young adults with ADHD
A phone program that sends short texts and personalized feedback to help young adults with ADHD boost self-control and reduce risky drinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146621 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get short text prompts that teach simple behavioral strategies to boost in-the-moment self-control when you feel like drinking. Brief surveys sent throughout the day (ecological momentary assessment) will track ADHD symptoms and drinking risk and trigger personalized, adaptive feedback. The team will first develop message content with a small group of young adults with ADHD and then test whether the messages are acceptable, feasible, and show preliminary signs of reducing problematic drinking. Participation may include some in-person visits at the University of Pittsburgh plus daily phone-based prompts and brief surveys.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young adults (about 18–25 years old) with a diagnosis of ADHD who report risky or problematic alcohol use and who own a smartphone are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without ADHD, those who are not drinking at-risk amounts, individuals without access to a smartphone, or those needing intensive inpatient care for severe alcohol dependence are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help young adults with ADHD drink less by strengthening momentary self-control using easy phone prompts and feedback.
How similar studies have performed: Text-message and EMA-based approaches for reducing young adult drinking have shown promise, but specifically targeting momentary inhibitory control in people with ADHD is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kennedy, Traci M. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Kennedy, Traci M.
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.