# Project THRIVE: Testing an app-based early intervention to reduce alcohol use and PTSD after sexual assault

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $682,867

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Sexual assault is highly prevalent among college students and is associated with high risk for alcohol misuse
and co-occurring posttraumatic stress in survivors of all genders. These conditions are associated with
significant strain on campus service systems and substantial short- and long-term consequences for students.
Although effective preventative interventions (i.e., implemented within the months following trauma exposure)
exist for these conditions, college student survivors often do not seek or successfully access in-person care,
especially among men and racial/ethnic minorities. Mobile health (i.e., mHealth) interventions are a promising
strategy to increase low-barrier access to preventative interventions among college students. We developed
and pilot tested a multi-component mHealth preventative intervention prototype, THRIVE, to reduce
posttraumatic stress and alcohol misuse in recent survivors of sexual assault. THRIVE was effective in
reducing both posttraumatic stress and alcohol misuse, making it the first post-trauma mHealth intervention
with evidence of efficacy in reducing alcohol misuse. In the current study, we propose to conduct an
optimization trial to identify the most effective, efficient, and low-burden version of THRIVE for college
students. Prior to conducting the trial, we will revise THRIVE using the real-time user feedback collected in the
pilot trial (Aim 1). Revisions will maintain the core elements of THRIVE while increasing usability. Revisions will
be selected by reviewing the app and pilot user feedback in partnership with user experience/interface
designers, our advisory board of experts in cultural adaptations of interventions, and our advisory board of
college student survivors. This will maximize usability with attention to the needs of diverse student survivors.
Using the revised app, we will then conduct a 2x2x2 factorial randomized trial to test the unique effects of the 3
core THRIVE components (i.e., in-app activity scheduling, in-app cognitive restructuring, phone coaching) on
alcohol misuse and posttraumatic stress (Aim 2), as well as the added benefit of coaching to activity
scheduling and cognitive restructuring (Aim 3). N=464 college students with past-12-week sexual assault,
elevated drinking, and PTSD will be enrolled. All participants will receive an onboarding call and non-core app
elements (i.e., self-monitoring, encouraging statements banner, referrals), and will be randomized to
additionally receive combinations of the 3 core elements. Participants will complete self-report assessments at
baseline, daily during the intervention, post-intervention, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Results will be used to
select an optimized version of THRIVE. Our design will ensure that future testing and dissemination of THRIVE
reflects maximally inclusive, efficient, and effective intervention elements. If effective, THRIVE would represent
a highly-scalable strategy that could be directly imple...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10821314
- **Project number:** 5R01AA030541-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Emily Raphael Dworkin
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $682,867
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-10 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10821314

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10821314, Project THRIVE: Testing an app-based early intervention to reduce alcohol use and PTSD after sexual assault (5R01AA030541-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10821314. Licensed CC0.

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