This project aims to study the influence of COVID-19 related stress on increasing risk of alcohol misuse and relapse after digital interventions. This project proposes a digital intervention study using a prospective clinical outcome design with two demographically-matched groups of risky social drinkers (total N=40; equal gender ratio) with high versus low COVID-19 related stress. We will utilize a digital intervention method that combines telehealth- and smartphone app- based interventions, allowing concurrent treatment and daily monitoring in a real-life setting. All participants will receive a 4-week telehealth intervention (two sessions per week) using an intervention that integrates alcohol treatment and breathing-based stress reduction methods. Then, they will be prospectively followed for 30 days to monitor stress, alcohol use, social functioning, and other health-related behaviors via a smartphone app.
There has been a significant increase in the prevalence of stress- and alcohol- related disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. This project aims to study the impact of COVID-19 related stress on increasing risk of alcohol misuse and relapse in risky social drinkers after digital interventions.