Alcohol DrinkingNCT05995470
Effect of an Internet-based Dialectical Behaviour Therapy-informed Skills Training for Adult Drinkers
A study testing Internet-based dialectical behaviour therapy-informed skills training and Monthly health education in people with Alcohol Drinking, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
1. To determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an internet-based DBT-ST for reducing alcohol consumption and improving psychological distress/emotional regulation in adult drinkers 2. To explore the participants' experiences and perceptions of the proposed intervention Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Alcohol Drinking
- What is being tested?
- Internet-based dialectical behaviour therapy-informed skills training and Monthly health education
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 86 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 21 Jan 2024to 12 Nov 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Hong Kong Chinese aged ≥18
- Score ≥8 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
- Indicate psychological distress as measured by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21
- Have an intention to stop drinking
- Have an electronic device and are willing to receive interventions via the internet
Who cannot join
- Experiencing psychotic disorders/cognitive impairment/communication problems
- Participating in other alcohol abstinence/related psychosocial interventions
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effect of an Internet-based Dialectical Behaviour Therapy-informed Skills Training for Reducing Alcohol Consumption and Improving Psychological Distress of Adult Drinkers: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
- To determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an internet-based DBT-ST for reducing alcohol consumption and improving psychological distress/emotional regulation in adult drinkers
- To explore the participants' experiences and perceptions of the proposed intervention
- Conditions
- Alcohol Drinking
- Being tested
- Internet-based dialectical behaviour therapy-informed skills training, Monthly health education
- Keywords
- Dialectical behaviour therapy, Skills training, Internet-based intervention, Psychological distress, Alcohol drinking, Adult drinkers
- Medical subject headings
- Alcohol Drinking
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Internet-based dialectical behaviour therapy-informed skills trainingBehavioural
Adaptive applications of DBT-ST for drinkers with psychological distress
Monthly health educationBehavioural
General health information and sharing sessions
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| DBT-ST group | Experimental | Participants in the intervention group will receive the DBT-ST by means of a free video-communication app. Over the next 13 weeks from the baseline, the intervention group will receive a weekly 120-minute internet-based DBT-ST focusing on the four modules of DBT-ST. Receives: Behavioral: Internet-based dialectical behaviour therapy-informed skills training |
| TAU group | Other | Participants in the wait list control group will receive a monthly health education for three months that provides general health information and sharing sessions, which is one of the routine care for drinkers during the first 3-4 months after they seek help for drinking problem (waiting period for further intervention). Receives: Behavioral: Monthly health education |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Alcohol consumption
The Chinese version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise (AUDIT-C)
Measured: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention
Level of psychological distress
Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress
Measured: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention
Secondary outcomes (4)
Self-reported alcohol abstinence
Self-reporting of quitting
Measured: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention
Emotion dysregulation
Levels of emotion dysregulation
Measured: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention
Distress tolerance
Perceived ability to tolerate emotional distress
Measured: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention
Coping response
Self-report measure of coping strategies
Measured: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Aug 2023
- Study start21 Jan 2024
- Primary completion12 Nov 2025
- Study completion12 Nov 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Alcohol DrinkingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Chinese University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 86 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ho Long Kwan, Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- Long Kwan Ho, PhD, Principal investigator, Chinese University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05995470
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 07210047
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Aug 2023
- Last updated
- 8 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of an Internet-based Dialectical Behaviour Therapy-informed Skills Training for Reducing Alcohol Consumption and Improving Psychological Distress of Adult Drinkers: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05995470
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 07210047
- Conditions
- Alcohol Drinking
- Keywords
- Dialectical behaviour therapy, Skills training, Internet-based intervention, Psychological distress, Alcohol drinking, Adult drinkers
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 86 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Jan 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 12 Nov 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 16 Aug 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
- To determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an internet-based DBT-ST for reducing alcohol consumption and improving psychological distress/emotional regulation in adult drinkers
- To explore the participants' experiences and perceptions of the proposed intervention
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| DBT-ST group | Experimental | Behavioral: Internet-based dialectical behaviour therapy-informed skills trainingParticipants in the intervention group will receive the DBT-ST by means of a free video-communication app. Over the next 13 weeks from the baseline, the intervention group will receive a weekly 120-minute internet-based DBT-ST focusing on the four modules of DBT-ST. |
| TAU group | Other | Behavioral: Monthly health educationParticipants in the wait list control group will receive a monthly health education for three months that provides general health information and sharing sessions, which is one of the routine care for drinkers during the first 3-4 months after they seek help for drinking problem (waiting period for further intervention). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Hong Kong Chinese aged ≥18
- Score ≥8 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
- Indicate psychological distress as measured by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21
- Have an intention to stop drinking
- Have an electronic device and are willing to receive interventions via the internet
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Experiencing psychotic disorders/cognitive impairment/communication problems
- Participating in other alcohol abstinence/related psychosocial interventions
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Internet-based dialectical behaviour therapy-informed skills trainingAdaptive applications of DBT-ST for drinkers with psychological distress | Behavioural | DBT-ST group |
| Monthly health educationGeneral health information and sharing sessions | Behavioural | TAU group |
Primary outcome
Alcohol consumption
Time frame: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention
The Chinese version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise (AUDIT-C)
Level of psychological distress
Time frame: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention
Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress
4 secondary outcomes
Self-reported alcohol abstinence
Time frame: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention
Emotion dysregulation
Time frame: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention
Distress tolerance
Time frame: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention
Coping response
Time frame: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Jan 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Long Kwan Ho, PhD principal investigator
Chinese University of Hong Kong
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Internet-based dialectical behaviour therapy-informed skills training and Monthly health education in people with Alcohol Drinking, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Alcohol consumption (time frame: Baseline, Post-intervention (upon completion of the 13-week DBT-ST), 3-month post-intervention). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Jan 2026.