Developing a Music Listening mHealth Intervention for Stress Reduction in Early Recovery

Launched by WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY · Jun 26, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how listening to music might help reduce stress for people who are in the early stages of recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD). For two weeks, participants will wear a wristband that tracks physical signs of stress and listen to music through a special Spotify account set up for the study. They will also answer short surveys on their smartphone four times a day to share how they’re feeling emotionally.

To take part, you need to be between 18 and 35 years old, be within your first year of recovery from alcohol use, and have a smartphone with a data plan. You should not be currently experiencing severe depression or suicidal thoughts, and you cannot be taking medication for opioid use disorder. Participants must be able to understand and speak English and give informed consent to join. If you qualify and join the study, you’ll help researchers understand how music might support stress relief during recovery, while using easy-to-follow technology and sharing your experiences regularly.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Subject can and has signed an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved informed consent form (ICF).
• • Age ≥18 and ≤35 years.
• • In early-stage recovery for alcohol use (within 12 months)
• • Own a smartphone with a data plan
• • Not experiencing symptoms of severe depression
• • Not experiencing thoughts of suicide
• • Meets the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD)
• • Not currently taking medication treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD)
• • Able to speak and read English
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Currently experiencing symptoms of severe depression
• • Currently experiencing thoughts of suicide
• • Currently taking medication treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD)
• • Are unable to provide voluntary informed consent.
• • Cannot read or speak English.