Automated Reinforcement Management System (ARMS)

NCT04656925 | Completed Results DMC

• 1 other identifier: IRB 18376
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 12
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Alcohol abuse remains a significant cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the US. Yet only 15% of those with alcohol use disorders receive treatment. Contingency Management (CM) is a cost-effective intervention for drug addiction where individuals are rewarded when they submit biological verification of drug abstinence. The researchers propose to develop an integrated CM system capable of incorporating mobile device input, that would allow them to deliver a CM intervention for problematic drinking to anyone who owns a smartphone. The mobile device input will incorporate ecological momentary assessments (EMA), geospatial mapping, and biomarker-based feedback from a portable measuring device.

Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Biochemically Measured Change in Alcohol Abstinence.

  Change in biochemically measured alcohol abstinence assessed through breath samples submitted three times daily.

  Daily during 8 weeks (2 weeks of first A phase, 4 weeks of B phase, and 2 second A phase)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Feasibility Indicator of App Usage

  8 weeks (2 weeks of first A phase, 4 weeks of B phase, and 2 second A phase)

• Treatment Retention

  8 Weeks

Study Arms (1)

Contingency management A-B-A

EXPERIMENTAL

All participants will be assigned a single arm where we will utilize an A-B-A, or return to baseline design where all participants will experience the intervention in between two baseline observation periods.

Behavioral: Contingency management

Interventions

Contingency management BEHAVIORAL

Reinforcement, or incentives, in exchange for evidence of not drinking alcohol.

Contingency management A-B-A

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-65 years.
• An Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score of 8 or higher.
• Ability to read and speak English.
• Ability to provide written informed consent.
• Breath alcohol of 0.00 during informed consent.
• Operate a smartphone with an active service provider.

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) alcohol use disorder, severe type.
• Significant risk of dangerous alcohol withdrawal, defined as a history of alcohol detoxification or seizure in the last 12 months and expression of concern by the participant about dangerous withdrawal.
• Diagnosis of a psychotic disorder.
• Lifetime suicide attempt or suicidality in the past year.
• Any other medical or psychiatric condition that would compromise safe participation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Washington State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Washington State University

Spokane, Washington, 99202, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alcoholism

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Alcohol-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Abigail Bowen
• Organization: Washington State University

abigail.bowen@wsu.edu

(425) 736-1354

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: A-B-A, or a return to baseline design.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 15, 2020
• First Posted: December 7, 2020
• Study Start: March 29, 2021
• Primary Completion: December 8, 2021
• Study Completion: December 8, 2021
• Last Updated: May 14, 2026
• Results First Posted: February 5, 2025

Record last verified: 2026-05

Locations

US (1)