Cognitive Interference Task on Alcohol Craving and Consumption

Participants completed the 4-item imagery subscale of the Craving Experiences Questionnaire, which measures craving/intense desire. Items are rated on a 0 to 10 point scale. A mean was calculated from the 4-item imagery subscale, with a possible range of 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate greater alcohol craving.

Time frame: Participants reported cravings one-month after the intervention.

Participants completed the Timeline Follow Back, which assesses past-month alcohol consumption. The outcome measure is average drinks per drinking occasion. Scores ranged from 0 to 6.29 drinks. Higher scores indicate greater average drinks consumed per occasion.

Time frame: Participants reported alcohol consumption one month after the intervention.

During the intervention phase, participants received a daily Cue Reactivity Ecological Momentary Assessment (CREMA), which provides real-time responses to alcohol-related imagery. After the CREMA, participants in the experimental group completed a Tetris task and participants in the control group took an equivalently long break. Participants then re-rated their craving. Both craving assessments used a single item from the Visual Analogue Craving Scale (How strong is your craving for alcohol RIGHT NOW?), ranging from 0 to 100. The outcome measure represents change in craving, calculated as post-task craving minus pre-task craving. A single value for change in alcohol craving reported at each cue reactivity assessment during the 14 days was averaged across all participants.

Time frame: Participants reported pre- and post-task alcohol craving up to once a day for a 14-day intervention period. Post-task craving was measured right after the CREMA/wait period and pre-task craving was measured directly before.

During the intervention phase, participants received up to three daily random in-vivo assessments assessing craving. Participants in the experimental group completed a Tetris task if they reported a positive response to craving and participants in the control group took an equivalently long break. Participants then re-rated their craving. Both craving assessments used a single item from the Visual Analogue Craving Scale (How strong is your craving for alcohol RIGHT NOW?), ranging from 0 to 100. The outcome measure represents change in craving, calculated as post-task craving minus pre-task craving. The change score was the difference in craving before and after the experimental task or the wait period. A single value for change in alcohol craving reported at each assessment during the 14 days was averaged across all participants.

Time frame: Participants reported pre- and post-task alcohol craving up to three times per day for a 14-day intervention period. Post-task craving was measured right after the Tetris task/control break and pre-task craving was measured directly before.

Participants reported the number of standard drinks consumed yesterday. The scale ranged from 0 to more than 20. Higher scores indicate more drinks consumed. A single value for number of standard drinks reported each day for 14 days was averaged across all participants.

Time frame: Participants reported number of standard drinks each morning at a scheduled time for 14 days.

Participants rated acceptability of the intervention on the Acceptability of Intervention Measure. Each item was rated on a 1 to 5 point scale. Total scores of 4 items were calculated with higher scores indicating greater acceptability (range 4-20).

Time frame: Recorded within one-week after the intervention.

Population: Only the experimental group rated acceptability of playing Tetris because the control did not play the game.

Participants rated their motivations for drinking alcohol on the Drinking Motives Questionnaire. The Drinking Motives Questionnaire consists of 28 items, each rated on a 1 to 5 scale. A mean score was calculated using all 28 items, with a total score range of 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate higher endorsement of motives to drink alcohol.

Time frame: Participants reported drinking motives at baseline.

The percentage of prompts participants responded to, calculated by the number of surveys participants responded to divided by the number of all possible surveys multiplied by 100%. Higher numbers indicate a greater number of responses.

Time frame: This was recorded during the 14-day intervention phase.

Population: Surveys during the 14-day intervention phase. Each participant was sent 4 surveys per day for 14 days.

Participants rated their craving and drinking behavior on the 6-item Obsessive subscale of the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale, which measures obsessive thoughts about alcohol. Each item is provided on a scale from 0 to 4. A total score was calculated, with a range of 0 to 24. Higher scores represent more obsessive thoughts of drinking.

Time frame: Participants reported obsessive thoughts about alcohol at a single baseline assessment, which occurred the day before the EMA period began.

Participants completed a structured interview to assess alcohol use disorder symptoms using the DIAMOND. The percent of participants who met criteria for an alcohol use disorder based on a clinical interview is reported.

Time frame: Participants reported alcohol use disorder symptoms at baseline.

Participants rated symptoms of alcohol use disorder on the the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). The AUDIT includes ten items assessing symptoms of alcohol use disorder. Each item is rated from 0 to 4 and items are added. Total scores on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) are reported. A score of 8 or higher is the suggested cut-off for harmful drinking.

Time frame: Participants reported self-reported symptoms of alcohol use disorder at baseline.

Participants reported the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on stress and drinking. Average of self-reported stress due to COVID-19 on a single item rated on a 4 point scale (0 to 4) is reported. Higher scores indicate greater stress.

Time frame: Participants reported COVID-19 related stress at baseline.

Participants responded to the Patient Health Questionnaire assessing symptoms of depression. The item assessing suicidal ideation was omitted. The 8 items included were rated on a 4 point scale ranging from 0 to 3 and totaled. Scores ranged from 0 to 24 and higher scores indicate greater symptoms of depression.

Time frame: Participants reported depression symptoms at baseline.

Participants reported impulsivity on the Short Negative Urgency, Premeditation, Perseverance, Sensation Seeking, and Positive Urgency Impulsive Behavior Scale. The total scores for negative urgency is reported. Total scores were calculated for negative urgency (range 4 to 16) by adding 4 items assessing tendency to act rashly when feeling upset. Each item was rated on a 1 to 4 scale, with higher scores indicating greater tendency to act rashly when upset.

Time frame: Participants reported impulsivity at baseline.

Participants will rate their mood on a 100-point scale ranging from unpleasant to pleasant. A higher score indicates a better or more pleasant mood.

Time frame: This will be recorded during the intervention phase.

Participants rated symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (PCL-5). Each symptom is rated on a 0 to 4 point scale. The 20 items are totaled and scores can range from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate greater posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.

Time frame: Participants reported posttraumatic stress symptoms at baseline.

Participants will rate their stress using a 100-point scale ranging from not at all to extremely. A higher score indicates greater stress.

Time frame: This will be recorded during the intervention phase.