Use of mobile technologies in the treatment of alcohol use disorder

Abstract

Mental disorders currently affect more than 500 million people in the world, among which, substance use disorders, such as alcohol, represent a major social problem, especially in developing countries. The use of mobile technologies in combination with behavioral and intervention sampling methodologies such as EMA and EMI allow a collection of information and intervention in real-time and in natural environments, which is of great benefit when dealing with patients suffering from mental disorders both in diagnosis and treatment. This work shows the stages of research, design, and development of experiments of a 4-year doctoral work, which aims to identify challenges at the intersection between mobile technologies and alcohol use disorder and propose different solutions to them.