Therapy to help HIV-positive individuals reduce hazardous drinking

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for HIV+ hazardous drinkers: A randomized clinical trial

NIH-funded research Syracuse University · NIH-10908365

This study is looking at how well Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help people living with HIV who drink too much alcohol, by teaching them ways to handle their feelings and thoughts better so they can improve their health and reduce their drinking.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSyracuse University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Syracuse, United States)
Project IDNIH-10908365 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for individuals living with HIV who engage in hazardous drinking. The study aims to address the challenges faced by these individuals by targeting the psychological processes that contribute to both substance use and mental health issues. Participants will receive a telephone-delivered ACT intervention designed to help them manage their alcohol consumption and improve their overall health outcomes. The approach focuses on reducing experiential avoidance, which is the tendency to escape from negative thoughts and feelings through substance use.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are HIV-positive individuals over the age of 21 who engage in hazardous drinking and may also experience mental health challenges.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have HIV or who do not engage in hazardous drinking may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment outcomes for HIV-positive individuals struggling with alcohol use, enhancing their overall quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been limited successful trials of alcohol interventions for people with HIV, this specific approach using ACT is novel and has not been fully tested in this population.

Where this research is happening

Syracuse, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.