Overview

• JAMA Psychiatry published results from a randomized Phase II trial of 115 adults in their first year of abstinence-based recovery followed for eight weeks.
• Participants using the Lief HRVB Smart Patch with a connected app were 64% less likely to use alcohol or drugs on any given day compared with standard care alone.
• The device tracked heart rate variability to detect stress or cravings and triggered brief, app-guided breathing exercises using vibration cues and AI-driven prompts.
• Treatment-group participants reported reduced negative affect and fewer cravings, while control participants experienced increases in negative affect and cravings.
• Outcomes were collected via twice-daily self-reports, and authors emphasize the need for larger, longer studies to assess durability, with funding from NIDA and NIAAA.