Mobile Mindfulness for Alcohol Use and PTSD Among Veterans

November 13, 2024 updated by: Eric Pedersen, University of Southern California

Development of a Mobile Mindfulness Intervention for Alcohol Use Disorder and PTSD Among OEF/OIF Veterans

The purpose of the present study is to develop and test a mobile mindfulness intervention for Alcohol Use Disorder and PTSD among OEF/OIF veterans

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The long-term goal of this proposal is to improve treatment outcomes for OEF/OIF(Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom) veterans with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who are not currently accessing care through the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (VA) or other settings. Many OEF/OIF veterans struggle with heavy drinking and related consequences and this can be especially pronounced with the co-occurrence of PTSD. Prior research has found aspects of self-regulation (emotion regulation, impulse control), stress, and craving to be important putative targets in AUD and PTSD symptom reduction. However, with upwards of 50% of veterans who have behavioral health needs not seeking treatment, it is imperative to utilize advances in technology to develop and test interventions that can reach non-treatment seeking veterans and target both symptoms of PTSD and AUD. As the proposed mechanisms (e.g., self-regulation) are becoming better understood regarding how they affect PTSD and AUD outcomes, approaches should focus on targeting these mechanisms and evaluating if they are essential facilitators of change. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) can target such mechanisms, but a gap in the knowledge persists regarding the utility of MBIs with veterans who screen positive for PTSD and AUD. Therefore, we propose to improve treatment outcomes for OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD and AUD by targeting self-regulation, stress, and cravings. We will develop and test a novel mobile MBI, Mobile Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention (mMBRP), that will improve upon evidence based in-person and group MBRP by reaching veterans outside of treatment settings. The engaging and easy to use mobile MBI integrates relapse prevention, stress reduction, and self-regulation skills and is relevant to issues surrounding stigma and barriers that veterans face when seeking services. The central hypothesis will be tested through a focus on three specific aims: (1) refine and add MBRP content to the popular VA developed Mindfulness Coach mobile application through a beta testing phase where we test for feasibility and acceptability of the app, (2) pilot test the efficacy of the mMBRP mobile app on alcohol use and PTSD outcomes compared to control, and (3) assess mechanisms of change such as self-regulation, stress, and cravings, as well as exploratory moderators of gender, race/ethnicity, and recency of discharge, on mMBRP effects. The unique strengths of this proposal are its focus on an underserved population, utilization of mobile technology for intervention delivery, and use of a novel intervention known to effectively target self-regulation and stress. The expected results will define a viable and easy-to-access treatment that can improve both AUD and PTSD symptoms. Results of this study will have a positive impact on substance use outcomes for those who have experienced traumatic events and will identify mechanism of action for treatment success. The app can be disseminated through our partners in the VA and through targeted sharing on social media.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
201

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90089
        • University of Southern California
      • Menlo Park, California, United States, 94025
        • National Center for PTSD
      • San Francisco, California, United States, 94121
        • San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • veterans aged 18 or older who have separated/discharged from military service from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, or Navy;
  • have served as part of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, or New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND)
  • be able to read English
  • own a personal smartphone with Internet access and be interested in using apps on that phone
  • score 8 or higher on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, which represents probable AUD in civilian and military samples and is the VA's criteria for "severe risk" of AUD warranting referral to a substance use treatment clinic
  • score a 33 or higher on the PTSD check list (PCL-5), which represents probable PTSD diagnosis among OEF/OIF veterans.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • currently affiliated with active duty service or in the reserves or guard units
  • past six-month treatment for alcohol or drug use or PTSD at the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (VA) or other health care providers or clinics;

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Mobile Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (mMBRP)
Participants will complete the Mindfulness Coach app program that is enhanced with additional modules containing MBRP content.
Behavioral: Mobile Mindfulness-Relapse Prevention (mMBRP)
Mindfulness Coach 2.0 is a mobile application designed by the VA's National Center for PTSD. The app provides: (a) psychoeducational topics related to mindfulness; (b) audio-guided mindfulness exercises; (c) self-assessment using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (d) a journal to track mindfulness practice sessions; (e) goal setting and tracking; (f) personal, customizable reminders; and (g) immediate access to support and crisis resources. We will enhance Mindfulness Coach with MBRP content by adding information about the triangle of awareness to understand connections among thoughts, sensations, and emotions, and specific meditations of sober breathing space and urge surfing to deal with cravings. We will add additional MBRP-specific modules. Participants will be asked to complete the intervention during 8 weeks, with two to three modules per week. After a beta test with 20 veterans, feedback will be used to refine the app for the national randomized clinical trial (RCT).
Active Comparator: Active control
Participants will complete a course of an exercise/healthy eating app program that is matched in time and effort to the intervention condition app.
Behavioral: Exercise/healthy eating mobile app
Participants in the control condition will be asked to download an exercise/healthy eating mobile app and use it for 8 weeks. Similar to Mindfulness Coach, the app will have specialized self-management guides that follow a guide-per-week format, educational videos that teach diet and exercise strategies, and a diary to track diet and exercise progress.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
change in PTSD symptoms
Time Frame: Time 1: baseline; Time 2: 4 week; Time 3: 8 week; Time 4: 12 week; Time 5: 16 week
The PTSD Checklist is a 20-item self-report measure that assesses the 20 DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) symptoms of PTSD.
Time 1: baseline; Time 2: 4 week; Time 3: 8 week; Time 4: 12 week; Time 5: 16 week
change in Alcohol use and related problems
Time Frame: Time 1: baseline; Time 2: 4 week; Time 3: 8 week; Time 4: 12 week; Time 5: 16 week
Alcohol use will be measured using an online version of the timeline follow back, which will assess past 30 day drinking days and typical drinks per occasion. Number of alcohol consequences experienced in the past month will be assessed with the 24-item Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire.
Time 1: baseline; Time 2: 4 week; Time 3: 8 week; Time 4: 12 week; Time 5: 16 week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
change in Treatment engagement
Time Frame: Screening in beta test; Time 1: baseline; Time 2: 4 week; Time 3: 8 week
The Mental Health/Substance Use Disorder Treatment History Inventory will be used to screen in participants who have not used care in the past 6-months as well as examine if participants engage in care during the treatment phase or during the post-treatment phase.
Screening in beta test; Time 1: baseline; Time 2: 4 week; Time 3: 8 week

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Southern California

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center
National Center for PTSD

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Eric R Pedersen, PhD, University of Southern California
  • Principal Investigator: Jordan P Davis, PhD, RAND

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 15, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 17, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 22, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 25, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 15, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 13, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1R34AA027845-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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