Supporting Adolescent Alcohol Treatment With Computer-Based ('Path180') Skills Training
Brown University
Summary
This 8-week clinical trial will test a computer-based skills training program called Path180 with 112 adolescents aged 13 to 19 who are receiving mental health counseling or outpatient substance use treatment. Participants will be randomly assigned to either standard treatment (treatment as usual) or standard treatment plus Path180. The study will use ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to closely track how Path180 may influence the use of CBT skills and clinical outcomes in daily life. The goal is to help make evidence-based treatment more accessible for underserved youth in the early stages of alcohol use disorder.
Description
Adolescent alcohol use remains a major public health issue worldwide. Clinical trials of psychosocial interventions for young people have shown only modest short-term results. New digital tools, such as computer-based programs, may improve treatment. Path180 is a computer-based program designed to help reduce alcohol use among teenagers by offering engaging, evidence-based content. However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of digital interventions such as Path180 for young people. This gap raises important questions about whether computer-based programs can help adolescents. The goa…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 13–19 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Ages 13 to 19 years, inclusive; we will exclude children \< 13 due to diversity across adolescence and youths \> 19 because our focus is teenagers * Seeking/receiving mental health counseling and/or outpatient substance use disorder treatment at Bradley Hospital or another national clinic/treatment service * Self-reported alcohol use in the past year * Meets criteria for a current DSM-5 alcohol use disorder assessed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children: Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS) * Able to understand written and…
Interventions
- BehavioralPath180
Path180 is a 7-module computer-based skills training program designed specifically for teenagers. Whenever possible, participants assigned to this group will complete one module of Path180 at each of the first 7 weekly Check-in Visits. By educating teenagers about alcohol, boosting their motivation to change, and teaching a series of coping skills, Path180 was created to help youth cut back or stop drinking alcohol. Each module is brief (\~20 minutes) and uses a variety of strategies and interactive exercises to help teenagers learn new skills and apply them in their daily lives. Youth randomized to this condition will have unlimited access to the Path180 platform throughout the 8-week skills training period.
Location
- Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction StudiesProvidence, Rhode Island