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NCT Number: NCT07573540

Optimizing Smart Technology for Addiction Recovery

The goal of this study is to develop a machine-learning guided recovery messaging system. The main question it aims to answer is can messages be used to:

* help people to improve their health * make changes in people's lives to address alcohol and substance use

Participants will:

* complete surveys * use a recovery-support digital therapeutic system

Recruiting

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Key information

Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Alcohol-Related Disorders Alcoholism Chemically-Induced Disorders Mental Disorders Substance-Related Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, United States

Location status: Recruiting

About this study

This study seeks to optimize messaging components which can be implemented in a recovery support messaging system such as may accompany a digital therapeutic app, in order to determine optimal messaging to increase interaction with recovery support resources, and whether messaging has any effect on clinical outcomes.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • meet criteria for alcohol use disorder with at least moderate severity (>= 4 DSM-5 criteria)
  • in initial remission with most recent use of alcohol between 1 week and 3 months in the past
  • able to read English
  • have a smartphone and cellular plan that supports STAR use (Apple iOS or Android)

Exclusion criteria

  • medical or psychiatric co-morbidities that preclude use of a smartphone

Treatment and study plan

STAR

Device

Automated recovery support messaging system for participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD), paired with a machine learning guided relapse risk prediction model.

Other names: Smart Technology for Addiction Recovery

Primary outcomes

  1. Participant engagement with the STAR system

    Time frame: data collected at 2 and 4 months

    Measured as days of engagement with the recovery system.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of heavy drinking days in the previous 28 days

    Time frame: data collected at baseline, 2, 4 months

    Data collected via Timeline Followback (TLFB) conducted by interview at 0, 2, and 4 months. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) lapse reports will be used to supplement the TLFB. These are daily surveys where the participant answers the question "have you had a drink you have not yet reported?" (Yes/No). If yes they are asked to indicate the date of their drinking and how many drinks they consumed that day (less than 1, 1-2, 3, 4, 5-6, 7-8, over 8). Four or more drinks are considered heavy drinking days for women and greater than 4 drinks are considered heavy drinking days for men.

  2. Number of drinking days in the previous 28 days

    Time frame: data collected at baseline, 2, 4 months

    Data collected via Timeline Followback (TLFB) conducted by interview at 0, 2, and 4 months. EMA lapse reports will be used to supplement the TLFB. These are daily surveys where the participant answers the question "have you had a drink you have not yet reported?" (Yes/No). If yes, they are asked to indicate the date of their drinking.

  3. Flourishing Scale Score

    Time frame: data collected at baseline, 2, 4 months

    10 items rated on 0-10 Likert scale where lower scores represent worse functioning and higher scores represent better functioning. Total possible range of scores is from 0-100.

  4. Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Score

    Time frame: data collected at baseline, 2, 4 months

    7 items rated on 0-3 Likert scale where lower scores represent better functioning and higher scores represent worse functioning. Total possible range of scores is from 0-21.

  5. Multidimensional Inventory of Recovery Capital (MIRC) Score: Total Score

    Time frame: data collected at baseline, 2, 4 months

    1-4 Likert scale. Some items are reverse coded but higher total scores represent better functioning and lower total scores represent worse functioning. Scored as total score 4-56.

  6. Multidimensional Inventory of Recovery Capital (MIRC) Score: Each Domain

    Time frame: data collected at baseline, 2, 4 months

    1-4 Likert scale. Some items are reverse coded but higher total scores represent better functioning and lower total scores represent worse functioning. Scored in 4 domains (social, physical, human, and cultural), each from 1-14.

  7. Patient Health Questionnaire (PQH-9) Score

    Time frame: data collected at baseline, 2, 4 months

    9 items rated on 1-4 Likert scale. Total possible range of scores from 0-27 where lower scores represent better functioning and higher scores represent worse functioning.

  8. Digital Working Alliance Inventory (D-WAI)

    Time frame: data collected at 2 and 4 months

    Six items rated on 1-7 Likert scale. Scored in 3 domains (Goals, Tasks, Bonds, each with 2 items) with possible scores from 2 to 14 where higher scores represent greater alliance with the STAR system in that domain.

  9. Message Usefulness

    Time frame: data collected at 2 and 4 months

    Seven items rated on 1-7 Likert scale. Total possible scores from 7 to 49 where higher scores represent greater valuation of STAR message usefulness.

  10. Trust of the System

    Time frame: data collected at 2 and 4 months

    Ten items rated on 1-7 Likert scale. Total possible scores from 10 to 70 where higher scores represent greater trust in the STAR system.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Susan Wanta

CONTACT

[email protected]

608-262-0387

Thea Blum

CONTACT

[email protected]

608-262-1362

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Registry information

Official study title

Optimizing Algorithmic Feedback About Lapse Risk for Trust, Engagement, and Clinical Outcomes for Alcohol Use Disorder

Acronym: STAR

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
May 7, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 25, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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