NBC News interviews Dr. Jud about digital therapeutics

Overview

In this NBC News Studio 10 interview, Dr. Jud discusses how digital therapeutics are transforming the way people break bad habits — from overeating to chronic anxiety. The core problem: our minds form habits within specific contexts and environments, but traditional therapy sessions happen in an office, far removed from those triggering situations. Digital therapeutics bridge that gap.

Dr. Jud explains how app-based programs like Unwinding Anxiety and Eat Right Now deliver evidence-based tools directly into the moments when people need them most — when cravings hit, when stress triggers kick in, when the habit loop is actively running. Rather than relying on willpower or waiting for a weekly appointment, users learn to apply mindfulness-based techniques in real time.

The results from Dr. Jud’s clinical research at Brown University back up this approach. His team has documented significant reductions in habit-driven behaviors across multiple studies, demonstrating that when people have access to the right tools at the right time, lasting change becomes far more achievable.

Key Takeaways

• Habits are context-dependent: Your brain triggers habitual behaviors based on specific environments and emotional states, which is why changing habits requires tools that work in those exact moments.
• Digital therapeutics deliver support in real time: App-based programs give people clinically proven techniques when and where they need them, not just during a weekly therapy session.
• The clinical evidence is strong: Dr. Jud’s research-backed programs have produced measurable reductions in smoking, craving-related eating, and anxiety — demonstrating that science-based digital tools can drive real behavior change.

Watch the full interview on NBC News

Related Resources

• How Anxiety Becomes a Habit — The science behind the anxiety habit loop
• Unwinding Anxiety — Dr. Jud’s bestselling book on breaking the anxiety cycle
• Habit Change Strategies Reviewed — Comparing evidence-based approaches to changing habits
• Smoking Cessation Strategies — How mindfulness-based programs help people quit smoking