Understanding heavy drinking in 18–25 year olds using phone sensors, tests, and questionnaires

Deep Phenotyping of Heavy Drinking in Young Adults with Behavioral Scales, Neuropsychological Tasks, and Smartphone Sensing Technology

['FUNDING_R01'] · YALE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11250985

This project uses smartphone sensors, mental tasks, and questionnaires to learn about risky drinking in young adults aged 18–25 who drink moderately to heavily.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorYALE UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW HAVEN, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11250985 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If you join, you will be an 18–25-year-old who reports recent moderate to heavy drinking and you will be followed for 12 months. You will complete questionnaires about mood and behavior, do brief computer-based thinking and memory tasks, and allow passive smartphone sensing (for sleep, location, and activity) along with periodic in-person or remote visits. The research team uses the Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment framework, expanded to include sleep and social processes, to create detailed, person-specific risk profiles. The goal is to spot patterns that predict who develops more serious alcohol problems so better prevention can be designed.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are 18–25-year-olds (college or non-college) who report recent moderate to heavy drinking and are willing to complete surveys, cognitive tasks, and smartphone-based monitoring.

Not a fit: People under 18 or over 25, those who do not drink at least moderately, or individuals unable or unwilling to use a smartphone for passive monitoring are unlikely to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify personal risk patterns and lead to earlier, more tailored prevention or treatment for young adults who drink heavily.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research using the ANA framework in older adults has predicted treatment outcomes, but applying this expanded model to young adults is a new approach.

Where this research is happening

NEW HAVEN, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.