Automated Assessment Using Facial Coding
Condition: Substance Use Disorders
MeSH terms: Substance-Related Disorders
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Transition-age youth (TAY) from ages 18-26 are vulnerable to substance substance use disorder
      (SUD). This developmental period, termed "emerging adulthood" includes leaving home, entering
      college or working for the first time; and for some, aging out of foster care or state
      custody, which end at age 18. The emerging-adulthood period is prime for experimentation with
      substances and the development of SUD, and associated problems. A major challenge for TAY is
      the capacity to regulate their emotions, given the hormone changes and emotional intensity of
      this stage of life. Indeed, substance use can be a short-term way to regulate emotion. The
      importance of ER is identified as a core skill that is critical to the successful transition
      to adulthood. The initial component of ER, accurate identification of emotion, is itself a
      major challenge. In the phase 1 project a mobile app was developed that uses automated
      emotion detection to help TAY better recognize their emotions in relation to SUD. We found
      positive results in our phase 1 study. Phase 2 will see the continuation of the development
      of the app features. Phase 2 also includes a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the app
      among TAY with SUD in their natural environment, such as home, and we will conduct pre- and
      post-evaluation to compare outcomes between the app condition and a control-app condition.
      The primary outcomes are substance use and emotion regulation. User satisfaction, feedback at
      the end of phase 2 and app metrics will also be explored. The app can potentially have major
      public health and clinical impact. It could help improve TAY's ability to become more aware
      of emotions and understand them in relation to SUD via emotion-focused technoloy. If the
      product is successful it could be expanded to other populations.
    

Detailed description: 
      Transition-age youth (TAY) from ages 18-26 are especially vulnerable to substance use,
      misuse, and substance use disorder (SUD). This developmental period, termed the "age of
      instability" and "emerging adulthood" includes tasks such as leaving home, entering college;
      identifying vocational goals; working for the first time; body and sexuality changes;
      coalescing with a peer group; and for some, aging out of foster care or state custody, which
      end at age 18. The emerging-adulthood period is prime for experimentation with substances and
      the development of SUD, and associated problems such as binge drinking, driving under the
      influence, accidents, fighting and violence, HIV, gang involvement, suicide and self-harm,
      and vulnerability to date-rape and other sexual assault. A major challenge for TAY is the
      capacity to regulate their emotions, given the hormone changes and emotional intensity of
      this stage of life. Indeed, substance use is often described as a short-term way to regulate
      emotion and there is a long-standing literature documenting the association between emotion
      regulation (ER) problems and SUD. The importance of ER is also grounded in the developmental
      literature in which ER is identified as a core skill that is critical to the successful
      transition to adulthood. The initial component of ER, accurate identification of emotion, is
      itself a major challenge, especially for people with SUD as they are often not aware of their
      feelings or confused about them due to the nature of the disorder as well as mental health
      disorders that often co-occur with SUD. The phase 1 project developed and evaluated a mobile
      app that uses exciting new technology (automated emotion detection) to help TAY better
      recognize their emotions in relation to SUD variables. Highly positive results were found in
      the phase 1 feasibility / pilot study and are now proposing a phase 2 project to continue
      this work. In phase 2 the app will continue to be developed based on user experience based on
      end-user feedback and an expert consultant team. Phase 2 also includes a randomized
      controlled trial to evaluate the app among TAY with SUD. They will have six weeks to use the
      app in their natural environment, such as home, and will complete pre- and post-evaluation
      using validated instrumts to compare outcomes between two conditions: the app condition and a
      control-app condition. The primary outcomes are substance use and emotion regulation.
      End-user satisfaction with the app will also be obtained as well as app metrics. The app
      product could have major public health and clinical impact. It could help improve TAY's
      ability to become more aware of their emotions and understand them in relation to SUD via an
      exciting emotion-focused technology innovation. If the product is successful it could also be
      expanded to other populations. The collaborative team includes experts in SUD, TAY, clinical
      innovations, technology, and app development.
    

Intervention name(s): Advanced Emotion App; Basic Emotion App
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The app is designed to help TAY better recognize their emotions using enhanced features; The app is designed to help TAY better recognize their emotions using basic features
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment