Understanding Heart Rhythm Patterns and Substance Use in Young People
Official title: Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia as a Predictor of Substance Use among Early Adolescents
Funded at Rhode Island Hospital · NIH-11121900 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how heart rhythm patterns in young adolescents might help us understand who is more likely to use substances, so we can offer support early.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rhode Island Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $573,393 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA050603-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11121900 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this type of research would be early adolescents, typically between 12 and 20 years old, who may or may not have a history of substance use.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not in the early adolescent age range or who are not at risk for substance use may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This research aims to identify early adolescents at risk for substance use by examining their heart rate variability, specifically Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA). RSA is a natural change in heart rate linked to breathing and emotion regulation, which doesn't rely on self-reporting. Researchers use a special virtual reality party task to see how adolescents' RSA changes when they face challenging situations. By observing how quickly their heart rate returns to normal after stress, the team hopes to find a way to spot those who might struggle with emotion regulation and be more vulnerable to risky behaviors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to identify young adolescents at higher risk for substance use, allowing for earlier and more effective prevention programs.
How similar studies have gone: Pilot data from the research team suggests that recovery RSA patterns are different in adolescents with a history of substance use, indicating some initial success with this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Rhode Island Hospital
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Houck, Christopher D. — Rhode Island Hospital
- Study coordinator: Houck, Christopher D.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Using heart rate patterns to predict substance use in early adolescents
This study is looking at how changes in heart rate can help spot early signs of substance use risk in young teens by using a fun virtual reality task to see how they handle their emotions, which could help identify those who might need support before they start using drugs or alcohol.
-
Improving contraception decisions for women with substance use disorders after childbirth
A patient-centered decision tool called MyPath aims to help postpartum women with substance use disorders choose and keep effective contraception after giving birth.
-
Co-treated care for substance use and heart infection at UVMMC
A hospital-based project aims to improve how doctors and teams treat people with both substance use disorder and infective endocarditis during their hospital stay.
-
Preventing Suicide Among Teens Who Use Substances in School Settings
Aims to see if how schools respond to substance-use incidents (like alcohol or drugs) can lower suicide risk among high‑risk students.
-
People and Place: How geography affects HIV care and substance use in Los Angeles
Aims to understand how where you live in LA affects HIV care and substance use, and to adapt a proven intervention to help PLWH who use substances connect with better care.
-
A crowdsourced, survivor-led approach to boost HIV/STI/HCV testing and overdose-prevention service use for sex trafficking survivors in NYC
A NYC-based study tests a survivor-driven digital messaging approach and at-home tests to help sex trafficking survivors increase HIV/STI/HCV testing and use overdose-prevention resources.
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.