Short telehealth CBT to reduce loneliness for people with opioid use disorder
Official title: Addressing perceived social isolation as a novel therapeutic target among individuals with OUD using telehealth CBT
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11320769 · Data updated 2026-11-12
It sees if a brief, telehealth cognitive-behavioral program can reduce loneliness for people with opioid use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $387,447 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA060966-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11320769 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with opioid use disorder who report feeling socially isolated and can join weekly telehealth sessions are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not feel lonely, cannot use telehealth technology, or have unstable medical or psychiatric needs may not benefit from this specific program.
What this research studies
You would be invited to join a national program testing a short telehealth treatment aimed at reducing feelings of loneliness among people with opioid use disorder. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three options: therapist-led CBT for perceived social isolation, therapist-led health education, or self-guided health education, each delivered in six weekly sessions. Therapist-led sessions happen by video and the self-guided arm uses online materials. The team will track loneliness, mood, and opioid use over time to find which approach helps people feel more connected and supports recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people with OUD feel less lonely and strengthen recovery by lowering relapse risk.
How similar studies have gone: CBT-based programs have reduced loneliness in other populations, but this is among the first fully powered trials testing such an approach specifically in people with OUD.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ashrafioun, Lisham — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Ashrafioun, Lisham
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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.