1. Kicking the Habit: The Development of a Mobile App to Address Substance Use Disorders
among Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Danielle M. Morabito1 Kimberly A. Babson, Ph.D.1 Matthew T. Feldner, Ph.D.2,3 Quyen Tiet, Ph.D.1,4,5,6 Courtney Dutton2 Walter Roth7
Nathanael Wolfe7 Marcel O. Bonn-Miller, Ph.D.1,4,8,9
*This work was supported in part by National Center for PTSD funding awarded to Dr. Marcel Bonn-Miller.
* Dr. Babson has served as a consultant for Insys Therapeutics within the past 12 months.
BACKGROUND
1 National Center for PTSD-Dissemination and Training Division, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System; 2 Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas; 3 Laureate
Institute for Brain Research; 4Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System; 5Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford
University School of Medicine; 6California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University; 7Inward.me, Inc.;8Department of Psychiatry, University of
Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; 9Center for Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment and Education, Philadelphia VA Medical Center
CONTENT
DEVELOPMENT
Co-occurring PTSD and SUD (i.e. alcohol and other drugs) is exceedingly common among
military veterans and is associated with:
• Extensive health care utilization
• Poor treatment outcomes
• Heightened suicide risk
While a number of treatments have been developed for this population, access to
empirically-supported interventions is limited by:
• Insufficient patient knowledge of treatment options
• Limited service provider training
• Proximity of treatment facilities
• Stigma
(McCauley et al., 2013)
Increasing treatment access and utilization among this population is paramount.
We sought to address this need by developing a mobile app, tailored specifically to veterans
with PTSD and SUD that provides information about existing VA treatment services and
serves as a stand alone substance intervention.
Review of
Literature
Existing
Resources
Script
Narration
Testimonials
Sent to App Developers
KICKING THE HABIT APP
22 Day Customized
Treatment
1. Connecting to Existing Services
• Day 1 through Day 5
• Educates user regarding VA treatment options and other
local resources
• Encourages VA treatment engagement with Veteran
Testimonials
• Provides links for emergency help
• Assesses readiness for change
• Allows the veteran determine feasibility and decide to
seek local VA treatment or continue on to part 2 of the
app
2. SUD Treatment
• Day 6 through Day 22
• Treatment synthesized from empirically supported
approaches such as psychoeducation, mindfulness,
cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement
therapy, contingency management, and 12-step social
support
• Tracks symptoms and substance use motives over time
• Prepares user for a successful cessation attempt
• Provides tools to manage craving and withdrawal
symptoms along with psychosocial changes