Which thoughts and feelings trigger drinking in people with PTSD
Official title: Identification and characterization of in-the-moment cognitive antecedents to alcohol use among drinkers with PTSD
Funded at Syracuse University · NIH-11162355 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at the moment-to-moment thoughts and feelings that lead people with PTSD to drink, using focus groups and short smartphone check-ins.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Syracuse University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Syracuse, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $242,743 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AA029728-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162355 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults who have PTSD, drink regularly or hazardously, and are willing to join focus groups and complete smartphone-based check-ins.
✕Less likely to help
This work is unlikely to help people who do not have PTSD, do not drink, cannot use a smartphone, or cannot participate in brief repeated reporting.
What this research studies
You would first take part in focus groups and brief interviews to describe the exact thoughts and urges that come up before drinking when PTSD symptoms flare. Researchers will turn those descriptions into short survey questions that can be asked quickly. For two weeks, participants will get smartphone prompts several times a day to report PTSD symptoms, immediate thoughts about drinking, and any drinking that occurs. Later work will link those in-the-moment thoughts to actual drinking events to identify the most important triggers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to the specific, momentary thoughts that trigger drinking in people with PTSD and guide phone-based supports that intervene when risk is high.
How similar studies have gone: Smartphone-based momentary assessment and just-in-time supports have shown promise for substance use generally, but applying these methods specifically to PTSD-related drinking is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
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Syracuse University
Syracuse, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zaso, Michelle J. — Syracuse University
- Study coordinator: Zaso, Michelle J.
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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.