Telehealth family therapy to help Veterans reduce drinking
Evaluating the Efficacy of Telehealth-Delivered Brief Family Involved Treatment (B-FIT) for Alcohol Use Disorder among Veterans
This offers a brief three-session family therapy delivered by telehealth to help Veterans with alcohol use disorder and their loved ones support recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141696 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You and a family member would take part in B-FIT, a short three-session cognitive behavioral program delivered by telehealth alongside any alcohol treatment you already receive. The sessions work on increasing family support for treatment-related behaviors, boosting the perceived rewards of staying sober, and improving communication to reduce drinking triggers. The team will collect information on drinking, treatment engagement, and how acceptable and doable the program is for Veterans and families. If successful, the program is meant to be a quick, accessible add-on to existing alcohol care for Veterans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Veterans with alcohol use disorder who are willing to involve a family member or close supporter and can attend telehealth sessions.
Not a fit: People without an available family member or support person to join, those unable to use telehealth, or those with needs requiring more intensive/longer treatments may not benefit from this brief intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make family-based support for alcohol recovery faster and easier to access by telehealth and help Veterans reduce drinking and stay in treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Prior pilot work with B-FIT in civilian samples showed feasibility and preliminary benefits, and longer family therapies have proven effective, but this brief telehealth format is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Flanagan, Julianne Christina — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Flanagan, Julianne Christina
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.