Wu T, Sherman G, Giorgi S, Thanneeru P, Ungar L, Kamath P, Simonetto D, Curtis B, Shah V. Smartphone sensor data estimate alcohol craving in a cohort of patients with alcohol-associated liver disease and alcohol use disorder. Hepatol Commun 2023;7(12). DOI:10.1097
This proof-of-concept study examined the feasibility of using passive smartphone sensors to predict alcohol cravings. For this pilot observational study, twenty-four adults with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) installed the AWARE platform onto their mobile phones. The platform allows for the collection of passive sensor data. For 30 days sensor data was collected and participants responded to daily prompts requesting self-reports of alcohol cravings, alcohol or substance use, and mood. While only half of the participants were retained in this study, their data provided useful insight into potential digital phenotyping for alcohol craving. Self-reported negative moods (loneliness, sadness, stress, anxiety, and fear) were positively correlated with craving (all p < 0.05). Conversely, positive moods (calmness, happiness, social support, and hope) were negatively correlated with craving (all p < 0.05). A similar directionality of correlations between craving and mood was found in the passive sensor data. For example, sensors that were associated with craving were highly associated with sadness (p < 0.001) and not associated with calmness (p < 0.001). Both decreases in distance traveled and increased phone movement were independently correlated with craving. Overall, this study provides novel insight into the potential use of smartphone sensors as a marker for alcohol craving and mood in ALD patients.