Ecological momentary interventions to reduce addictive behaviors : a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose of Review: The rise of ecological momentary interventions (EMIs) and just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs), which deliver personalized, context-specific support in real-time, has provided new opportunities for addressing addictive behaviors more effectively. This review aimed to qualitatively synthesize the existing evidence to assess the impact of EMIs and JITAIs on reducing various types of addiction. Recent Findings: Previous reviews on EMIs and JITAIs for substance use and smoking cessation have shown mixed results and inconsistent definition of EMI, which poses challenges in interpreting the findings. Summary: The review identified 13 relevant studies that report 12 independent randomized controlled trials, with a total sample size of 2585 participants. The considerable heterogeneity in intervention design, participant characteristics, and implementation fidelity, coupled with the lack of standardized definitions for EMIs and JITAIs, limits our ability to draw definitive conclusions regarding their effectiveness in reducing addictive behaviors. Future research should prioritize standardization of definitions, compliance measurements, behavioral outcomes, and reporting practices to enhance comparability across studies and facilitate the identification of effective intervention components.