# Evaluating the Efficacy of Telehealth-Delivered Brief Family Involved Treatment (B-FIT) for Alcohol Use Disorder among Veterans

> **NIH NIH R01** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2022 · $678,851

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Improving alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment access and outcomes among Veterans is an urgent public
health priority. The lifetime prevalence of AUD among Veterans is twice that of civilians. Veterans also incur
more severe and persistent AUD symptoms with more lengthy and complex treatment courses and negative
outcomes compared to the general population. Despite the critical role that family members play in the etiology,
course, and treatment of AUD, and the robust evidence base supporting the efficacy of several existing family
AUD treatments, family treatment protocols are lengthy and burdensome for patients and clinicians. Thus, there
is a critical need to develop efficacious family AUD treatments that are both brief and highly accessible to
Veterans. Members of our team developed and refined the Brief Family Involved Treatment (B-FIT) protocol in
an NIAAA-sponsored pilot trial among civilians. B-FIT is a 3-session cognitive behavioral therapy designed to be
implemented in combination with any existing alcohol treatment program. The goals of B-FIT are to 1) increase
reinforcement of treatment-facilitating behaviors, 2) increase the perceived reinforcement value of abstinence by
increasing anticipated positive rewards from abstinence, and 3) reduce drinking cues by decreasing negative
communication and increasing positive communication with family members. This study resulted in findings that
support feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of B-FIT. In a separate study, our team has
demonstrated excellent feasibility and acceptability of delivering dyadic AUD treatment via home-based
telehealth. Thus, the primary objective of this Stage II trial is to examine the efficacy of B-FIT in combination with
treatment as usual (TAU; VA Substance Treatment and Recovery [STAR]) versus TAU alone in 1) reducing
alcohol consumption, 2) improving family functioning, and 3) improving STAR treatment satisfaction, adherence,
and retention among Veterans. To accomplish this, we will employ an open randomized controlled design and
examine standardized, repeated, dependent measures of change at multiple time points. We will also leverage
our team’s standard operating procedures for fully remote study implementation, close collaboration with regional
VA STAR clinics, and a robust national VA telehealth infrastructure which is prepared to efficiently translate
positive findings into treatment. The proposed study is directly aligned with NIAAA’s mission and Strategic Plan
in that it will 1) employ electronic health technology to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of AUD
treatment for Veterans, 2) will advance AUD treatment access among rural and underserved Veterans, who are
a health disparity population, 3) focuses on Veterans in a real-world treatment setting (i.e., VA STAR clinics), 4)
examines B-FIT for home-based telehealth delivery, and 4) will identify characteristics of Veterans and family
members most likely to benefit from t...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10520252
- **Project number:** 1R01AA029679-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** JULIANNE Christina Flanagan
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $678,851
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-16 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10520252

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10520252, Evaluating the Efficacy of Telehealth-Delivered Brief Family Involved Treatment (B-FIT) for Alcohol Use Disorder among Veterans (1R01AA029679-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10520252. Licensed CC0.

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