Wearables and real-time surveys to explore cannabis use and depression in young adults
Official title: Using wearables and EMA to examine the links between cannabis and depression
Funded at Brown University · NIH-11247900 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses wearable devices and short, real-time surveys to see how cannabis use, daily mood, and sleep relate in young adults with depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $231,225 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM130414-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247900 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are young adults who experience depressive symptoms and use cannabis, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not use cannabis, do not have depressive symptoms, are outside the target age range, or cannot wear devices or complete brief surveys are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
You would wear a small device that tracks sleep and activity and answer brief surveys several times a day about your mood and cannabis use. The team combines these momentary reports and wearable data to look for patterns linking cannabis use to changes in sleep and negative feelings. The focus is on young adults and disadvantaged groups who have rising rates of depression and cannabis use. Data are collected over time to capture how short-term effects may lead to longer-term changes in mood and sleep.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to times when cannabis use worsens sleep or mood and suggest targets for personalized support or early intervention.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using momentary surveys and wearables have found links between sleep, mood, and substance use, but combining these methods to study cannabis-related changes in young adults is still an emerging approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Brown University
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sokolovsky, Alexander William — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Sokolovsky, Alexander William
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Wearables and real-time prompts to understand how cannabis relates to depression
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This project looks for molecular changes in brain tissue from people with cannabis use disorder or major depression to link cannabis exposure with biological changes that may raise depression risk.
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Understanding how cannabis use affects depression in young people living with HIV.
This study is looking at how using cannabis might affect feelings of depression in young adults aged 18-34 who are living with HIV, and it aims to understand how this relates to the way the brain processes rewards and pain, which could help find better ways to treat depression.
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.