Identifying Game-Based Digital Biomarkers of Cognitive Risk for Adolescent Substance Misuse: Protocol for a Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background: Adolescents at risk for substance misuse are rarely identified early due to existing barriers to screening that include the lack of time and privacy in clinic settings. Games can be used for screening and thus mitigate these barriers. Performance in a game is influenced by cognitive processes such as working memory and inhibitory control.

A Video Game Intervention to Prevent Opioid Misuse Among Older Adolescents: Development and Preimplementation Study.

Background: Opioid misuse and mental disorders are highly comorbid conditions. The ongoing substance misuse and mental health crises among adolescents in the United States underscores the importance of widely scalable substance misuse preventive interventions that also address mental health risks. Serious video games offer an engaging, widely scalable method for delivering and implementing preventive interventions.

A Serious Video Game Targeting HIV Testing and Counseling: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Adolescents are the age group that is least likely to know their HIV status and may unknowingly transmit the virus to others. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of the original video game intervention, PlayTest!, on behavioral antecedents for HIV testing and counseling (HTC).

Methods: Participants (N = 287 adolescents) were recruited between 2018 and 2020 and were 48% female, aged 14-18 years (mean age = 15.

A digital health game to prevent opioid misuse and promote mental health in adolescents in school-based health settings: Protocol for the PlaySmart game randomized controlled trial.

Adolescents who engage in non-opioid substance misuse and/or experience mental health symptoms are at greater risk of misusing opioids and/or developing opioid use disorder. Adolescence is a critical developmental period to both prevent the initiation of opioid misuse and target mental health. To date, there are no digital health games targeting both conditions.

Evaluating the validity of game-based assessments measuring cognitive function among children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Games offer advantages over traditional methods of assessing cognitive function among children and adolescents. However, the validity of game-based assessments has not been systematically evaluated. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the validity of game-based assessments measuring cognitive function among children and adolescents.

Multidisciplinary Strategies for Preventing Opioid Misuse and Escalation by Targeting Mental Health Symptoms and Conditions.

We aim to review the association between childhood-onset mental health conditions and increased risk for early substance use including opioid misuse and opioid use disorders (OUD). The association between mental health conditions and opioid misuse suggests youth with mental health conditions may benefit from opioid prevention efforts that concurrently address mental health. To aid in the identification of youth with mental health conditions who could benefit from interventions, we will review opportunities and challenges associated with screening for mental health symptoms or substance use in settings where youth at high risk for mental health conditions present.

Leveraging the Full Continuum of Care to Prevent Opioid Use Disorder.

Substance use disorder prevention programs are most effective when matched appropriately to the baseline risk of the population. Individuals who misuse opioids often have unique risk profiles different from those who use other substances such as alcohol or cannabis. However, most substance use prevention programs are geared toward universal audiences, neglecting key inflection points along the continuum of care.

Accelerating Solutions for the Overdose Crisis: an Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Protocol for the HEAL Prevention Cooperative.

Given increasing opioid overdose mortality rates in the USA over the past 20 years, accelerating the implementation of prevention interventions found to be effective is critical. The Helping End Addiction Long-Term (HEAL) Prevention Cooperative (HPC) is a consortium of research projects funded to implement and test interventions designed to prevent the onset or escalation of opioid misuse among youth and young adults. The HPC offers a unique opportunity to synthesize and share lessons learned from participating research projects' varied implementation experiences, which can facilitate quicker integration of effective prevention interventions into practice.

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate a Cognitive Behavioral Videogame Intervention: .

To design a cognitive behavioral videogame intervention and to evaluate its preliminary effect on improving youth's perceptions about themselves, their future, and their ability by incorporating skill development in cognitive reappraisal, an emotion regulation strategy to change perceptions. We conducted a pilot RCT to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of a videogame intervention, , in enhancing cognitive reappraisal skills. We also assessed beliefs/attitudes, self-efficacy, and emotional self-efficacy as well as user experience and feasibility.

Methodological Strategies for Prospective Harmonization of Studies: Application to 10 Distinct Outcomes Studies of Preventive Interventions Targeting Opioid Misuse.

The Helping to End Addiction Long-Term (HEAL) Prevention Cooperative (HPC) is rapidly developing 10 distinct evidence-based interventions for implementation in a variety of settings to prevent opioid misuse and opioid use disorder. One HPC objective is to compare intervention impacts on opioid misuse initiation, escalation, severity, and disorder and identify whether any HPC interventions are more effective than others for types of individuals. It provides a rare opportunity to prospectively harmonize measures across distinct outcomes studies.

A quasi-experimental test of a virtual reality game prototype for adolescent E-Cigarette prevention.

Objective: To test the preliminary impact and participant experience/satisfaction of Invite Only VR: A Vaping Prevention Game (Invite Only VR), an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) prevention game prototype using virtual reality (VR) hardware.

Methods: Forty-seven adolescents (38 boys; mean age = 14.23 years, SD = 0.

Integrated stepped alcohol treatment for patients with HIV and at-risk alcohol use: a randomized trial.

Background: At-risk levels of alcohol use threaten the health of patients with HIV (PWH), yet evidence-based strategies to decrease alcohol use and improve HIV-related outcomes in this population are lacking. We examined the effectiveness of integrated stepped alcohol treatment (ISAT) on alcohol use and HIV outcomes among PWH and at-risk alcohol use.

Methods: In this multi-site, randomized trial conducted between January 28, 2013 through July 14, 2017, we enrolled PWH and at-risk alcohol use [defined as alcohol consumption of ≥ 14 drinks per week or ≥ 4 drinks per occasion in men ≤ 65 years old or ≥ 7 drinks per week or ≥ 3 drinks per occasion in women or men > 65 years old].

Videogame intervention to encourage HIV testing and counseling among adolescents.

Background: Adolescents in the United States account for one-fifth of new HIV cases, and have the highest rate of undiagnosed HIV, with more than half (51%) not knowing their status. It is a crucial public health concern to help equip youth with the information and autonomy to minimize their risk and know their status. Serious videogames are emerging as valuable tools for health and behavior change in adolescents, and have potential to engage this population and increase their use of HIV testing and counseling (HTC).

Predictors of initiation of and retention on medications for alcohol use disorder among people living with and without HIV.

Introduction: Infrequent use of and poor retention on evidence-based medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) represent a treatment gap, particularly among people living with HIV (PLWH). We examined predictors of MAUD initiation and retention across HIV status.

Methods: From Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) data, we identified new alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnoses from 1998 to 2015 among 163,339 individuals (50,826 PLWH and 112,573 uninfected, matched by age, sex, and facility).

Effectiveness of a web-based tobacco product use prevention videogame intervention on young adolescents' beliefs and knowledge.

Preventing tobacco product initiation in youth is a critical need. While cigarette smoking among youth has been on the decline, tobacco use in other forms, such as e-cigarettes and vaping, continue to be a major concern. The purpose of this study was to conduct a real-world, quasi-experimental test of the effectiveness of a web-based videogame, , aimed at developing healthy beliefs and knowledge associated with tobacco product use prevention, including electronic cigarettes.

Integrated stepped alcohol treatment for patients with HIV and liver disease: A randomized trial.

Background: There is no known safe level of alcohol use among patients with HIV and liver disease. We examined the effectiveness of integrated stepped alcohol treatment (ISAT) on alcohol use, HIV, and liver outcomes among patients with HIV and liver disease.

Methods: In this multi-site, randomized trial conducted between January 28, 2013 through July 15, 2016, we enrolled 95 patients with HIV and liver disease [defined as having active hepatitis C infection or FIB-4 score > 1.

Feasibility of text messaging to augment brief advice and nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation in college students.

To test the feasibility of a university health center-delivered smoking cessation intervention that adds a 6-week course of text messaging to brief advice and nicotine patch therapy. : Young adult cigarette smokers ( = 40) from 2 universities from January 2015 to May 2016. : Randomized controlled trial comparing brief advice, nicotine patch therapy and: (1) a 6-week text messaging intervention ( = 20); or (2) no text messaging ( = 20).

Integrated stepped alcohol treatment for patients with HIV and alcohol use disorder: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: We examined the effectiveness of integrated stepped alcohol treatment (ISAT) on alcohol use and HIV outcomes among patients living with HIV and alcohol use disorder.

Methods: In this multisite, randomised controlled trial, conducted in five Veterans Affairs-based HIV clinics in the USA (Atlanta, GA; Brooklyn-Manhattan, NY; Dallas and Houston, TX; and Washington, DC), we recruited people living with HIV and an alcohol use disorder who were not otherwise receiving formal alcohol treatment. Patients were eligible if they were aged 18 years or older, HIV positive, English speaking, and met criteria for alcohol use disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders-IV criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence.

One Night Stan: Feasibility Study of an HIV Prevention and Sexual Risk Reduction Social Card Game for Young Black Women.

Objective: To develop and test the feasibility and preliminary impact of the social card game prototype, One Night Stan, a theory-driven and evidence-based human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention intervention for young black women.

Materials And Methods: The study included the enrollment of 21 young, heterosexual black women (mean age 19) to test the feasibility and preliminary impact of the card game, using a pre/postdesign. Participant satisfaction and gameplay experience were assessed using quantitative and qualitative measures.

A videogame intervention for tobacco product use prevention in adolescents.

Purpose: This pilot study evaluated the short-term effects of an interactive videogame on changing adolescent knowledge, beliefs and risk perceptions, and intentions to use e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and other tobacco products. A secondary aim was to evaluate players' game experience.

Methods: Participants (N = 80 11-14 year olds) were recruited from 7 community-based afterschool programs in New Haven, Connecticut and Los Angeles, California.

Development and Feasibility Testing of a Videogame Intervention to Reduce High-Risk Sexual Behavior in Black and Hispanic Adolescents.

Develop and test feasibility of a mobile videogame intervention to decrease high-risk sexual behavior in black and Hispanic adolescents. Iterative design to develop intervention in partnership with target audience. Feasibility and preliminary impact data collected at baseline, following 2-3 hours of gameplay and at 8-week follow-up.