JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Targeting automatic approach tendencies toward alcohol-related stimuli has been shown to significantly reduce relapse rates in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) when used as an add-on to inpatient treatment. Traditional AAT trainings require clinical settings and stationary devices. To expand accessibility, a mobile application was tested that allows the training to be conducted outside clinical environments while capturing actual motor parameters such as acceleration.

Objective:

Three proof-of-concept studies assessed the feasibility, split-half reliability, and sensitivity of the mobile AAT app.

Methods:

Study 1 tested technical stability and measurement reliability in 26 university students across six home-based sessions. Study 2 examined approach-avoidance tendencies in 15 inpatients with AUD. Study 3 tested 28 soccer fans to determine the presence and modifiability of alcohol-related approach biases after three or six training sessions.

Results:

The app demonstrated high technical stability, usability, and measurement reliability in Study 1. In Study 2, patients showed faster reaction times when pushing away alcohol images (avoidance tendency, p < .001) and greater acceleration when pulling them toward (approach tendency, p < .001). In Study 3, participants exhibited an initial avoidance bias correlated with higher AUDIT-C scores (p = .006). Training effects were observed as faster and stronger avoidance responses after repeated sessions (p = .015; p = .037), with greater effects following more sessions.

Conclusions:

The mobile AAT app appears technically feasible and behaviorally effective in modifying alcohol-related automatic tendencies. Future randomized controlled trials should evaluate its potential for prevention and early-intervention in non-clinical populations.