AAT-APP+: A Novel Brain-training App to Reduce Drinking

NCT04923256 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 73140
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 188
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will explore the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a smart phone delivered form of cognitive training intervention (Approach Bias Modification (ABM)) in a non-clinical community sample of middle to older adults (\>55 years) reporting hazardous alcohol use in a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT). This app is called AAT-APP+

Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder

Keywords

Alcohol; Intervention; Cognitive Bias Modification; Mobile Health Intervention; Approach Bias

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in number of standard drinks past week

  Change from baseline in number of standard drinks at 4-weeks

  Change from baseline standard drinks at 4-weeks

Secondary Outcomes (16)

• Change in number of drinking days past week

  Change from baseline drinking days at 4-weeks

• Change in number of standard drinks consumed in the past week throughout the 4-week training program

  Change from baseline standard drinks consumed in the week prior to training compared to each week of training (i.e. week 1, week 2, week 3).

• Change in number of drinking days past week throughout the 4-week training program

  Change from baseline number of drinking days in the week prior to training compared to each week of training (i.e. week 1, week 2, week 3).

• Change in number of drinking days at follow up

  Change from baseline number of drinking days at 8-weeks

• Craving Frequency Score (as measured by the Craving Experience Questionnaire, Frequency)

  Change from baseline craving frequency at 4-weeks

Other Outcomes (2)

• Task acceptability as measured by the Mobile Application Rating Scale - user version (uMARS)

  4-weeks

• Task feasibility

  4-weeks

Study Arms (2)

Experimental: Approach Bias Modification

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete 2 x 5-7 min training sessions of approach bias modification for the period of four weeks

Behavioral: AAT-APP: A novel smart-phone approach-avoidance bias modification intervention

Control: Minimal intervention

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will complete a standardised alcohol approach-avoidance training task (AAT) on a weekly basis for four weeks.

Behavioral: Sham training control

Interventions

AAT-APP: A novel smart-phone approach-avoidance bias modification intervention BEHAVIORAL

Participants allocated to the intervention group will be required to upload photos of drinks they wish to avoid, as well as activities they wish to engage in more, and be trained to avoid and approach by repeatedly 'swiping' images away from and towards themselves, respectively.

Experimental: Approach Bias Modification

Sham training control BEHAVIORAL

Complete an AAT on a weekly basis for four weeks

Control: Minimal intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 55 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 55+ years
• Score 8 or higher on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (indicates 'hazardous' levels of alcohol use).
• Access to an Android or Apple smart phone and Australian contact number
• Wish to reduce their drinking
• Live within the Eastern Health Primary and Secondary Catchment (see map below)

You may not qualify if:

• Under age 55
• Not concerned about their drinking
• Do not wish to reduce their alcohol use in the next 4-6 weeks
• Do not reside with the appropriate catchment will be excluded.
• Experiencing severe alcohol problems likely to need professional treatment (i.e. presence of withdrawal symptoms in the past year)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Turning Point: lead
• Monash University: collaborator
• Eastern Health: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Turning Point

Richmond, Victoria, 3121, Australia

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alcoholism

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Victoria Manning, PhD

  Turning Point

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Double blinded (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Randomised controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 11, 2021
• First Posted: June 11, 2021
• Study Start: June 30, 2022
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2023
• Study Completion: March 1, 2024
• Last Updated: August 1, 2025

Record last verified: 2022-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

AU (1)