An interventional study of EA-Avatar in Binge Drinking and Suicidal Ideation, sponsored by University of Massachusetts, Worcester. Completed at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 29 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-03.
Sponsored by University of Massachusetts, Worcester · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
This study is an open pilot usability trial to test the 1) usability of a newly developed mobile health intervention to help manage suicidal ideation and alcohol use problems and 2) feasibility of research protocols with emerging adults (18-29 year-olds) who present to the emergency department.
This study is an open pilot usability trial with emerging adults presenting to the emergency department with binge drinking and suicidal thoughts. The main study aims are to test the usability of a newly developed avatar-guided mobile health intervention and feasibility of 28 days of daily assessments and four follow-ups at 4-, 8-, and 12-weeks after discharge.
Ten emerging adults aged 18-29 years old will be recruited from the emergency department who have suicidal ideation and alcohol use problems. Exclusion criteria are conditions that would preclude research participation (e.g., cognitive disabilities, in police custody; at imminent risk of harming oneself in the emergency department).
All ten participants will be given access to a newly designed avatar-guided digital intervention and text message intervention (EA-Avatar) for 12 weeks in addition to usual emergency department care. Participants will complete measures of alcohol use, suicidal ideation, and alcohol-related cognitions and experiences, as well as service utilization. They will also complete a scale of usability of the avatar intervention and qualitative interviews of the intervention and research protocols.
Based on participant qualitative interviews, a scale of usability of the digital intervention, feedback surveys, recruitment and retention in the study, participant completion of daily diary and ecological assessment surveys, and analysis of mobile intervention usage data, the intervention will be revised, before testing in a larger randomized controlled feasibility trial.
71 studies on the registry are indexed under Binge Drinking; 20 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 10 is below the median of 120 across 64 interventional studies indexed under Binge Drinking.
Browse Binge Drinking studies →University of Massachusetts, Worcester is the lead sponsor of 291 studies on the registry; 51 are open to participants now.
Of its 25 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 18 (72%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
The avatar-guided digital intervention includes monitoring of alcohol use and common triggers suicidal thoughts, skills to manage alcohol use and suicidal thoughts, resources on how to access outpatient care and crisis hotlines for suicidal thoughts, and achievements for milestones. In addition, text messages provide reminders to access the avatar platform to learn or practice skills and provide encouragement. EA-Avatar is given in addition to emergency department care as usual.
Behavioral: EA-Avatar
The avatar-guided digital intervention includes monitoring of alcohol use and common triggers suicidal thoughts, skills to manage alcohol use and suicidal thoughts, resources on how to access outpatient care and crisis hotlines for suicidal thoughts, and achievements for milestones. In addition, text messages provide reminders to access the avatar platform to learn or practice skills and provide encouragement.
Usability of the EA-Avatar digital intervention, defined by ratings on the System Usability Scale
If any System Usability Items are less than 3.5 out of 5, those aspects of the digital intervention will be revised in the beta version.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Feasibility of research protocols, defined as follow-up retention
Feasibility will be supported by retention of research participants in at least 80% at each of the four assessments
Time frame: 12 weeks
Feasibility of research protocols, defined as adherence to the ecological momentary assessment/daily diary protocol
Feasibility will be supported by at least 75% of total EMA and daily diary surveys across 28 days
Time frame: 12 weeks
Acceptability of EA-Avatar as rated on participant feedback surveys
Feedback on the alpha version of EA-Avatar measured via a feedback survey with items rated on a 4-point likert scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree, which assesses opinions about avatar appearance and customizations, the helpfulness of skills, and helpfulness of features of the platform
Time frame: 12 weeks
Plan to share: Yes — De-identified data will be shared with per reasonable request to the PI, after the final report and data is published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Informed consent form
Time frame: 6 months after the last participant completes the study (completes their 12 week follow-up), data will be analyzed and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Access criteria: After publication of main and secondary outcomes in a peer-reviewed journal, de-identified data will be available upon reasonable request to the PI.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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