Boston University Charles River Campus

This trial tests whether a brief vocational rehabilitation program can help people with arthritis who are worried about losing their jobs. Participants, all currently employed and living or working in eastern Massachusetts, will work with a physical or occupational therapist to i…

This trial tests whether a parenting program called Strong Families Strong Forces can help active-duty military families with young children (birth to 5 years) cope with the stress of deployment. Families are randomly assigned to either the parenting program or a self-care progra…

This pilot study tests whether a brief video-counseling session followed by four weeks of app-based text messages can help Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men cut back on heavy drinking and reduce condomless anal intercourse. Participants must hav…

This study tests whether a type of talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help teenagers with panic disorder. The therapy includes 11 weekly sessions designed to change how teens think about and react to panic symptoms. Participants track their anxiety daily. …

This study tests whether an intensive, 8-day form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help adolescents with panic disorder and agoraphobia. The therapy includes 15-20 hours of one-on-one sessions focused on changing anxious thoughts and gradually facing feared situations. S…

This study tests whether personalized motivational text messages can help adults with anorexia nervosa increase their motivation to change and their calorie intake. Participants receive these texts alongside cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is provided at no cost. The st…

This study tests whether a personalized balance and strengthening exercise program can reduce falls in people with Parkinson's disease. Thirty-two participants are randomly assigned to start the program either right away or after a three-month delay. The program involves group se…

This study tests a home-based parenting program called BRIGHT for pregnant women receiving treatment for opioid use disorder. The program starts in the third trimester and continues for six months after birth, focusing on the parent-child relationship, mental health, and infant d…

This study tests two versions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for adult women with a specific form of bulimia nervosa that also involves borderline personality traits. One therapy focuses only on eating disorder symptoms, while the other also addresses mood and relationship…

This study compares two treatments for depression in children aged 7 to 13: a family-focused therapy that works with both the child and parents, versus individual therapy for the child alone. The family approach aims to improve parent-child interactions, communication, and coping…

This study tests whether a 12-week group exercise program using balls and progressively harder balance tasks can improve balance and lower the risk of falls in healthy adults aged 65 and older. Participants do exercises while also performing mental tasks, like reciting a story, t…

This study tests whether walking to a metronome beat—called rhythmic auditory stimulation—can help people who have had a stroke walk farther and with a more steady, automatic gait. It will also see if older adults without stroke show similar benefits. Participants will complete t…

This trial tests whether a short, computerized task — done on a smartphone or home computer three times a day for a week — can reduce smokers' automatic attention to cigarette cues and lower their cravings. Regular smokers aged 18–65 who smoke at least 10 cigarettes per day are r…

This study tests whether a coaching program called CAPP can reduce burnout and turnover among peer support specialists—people with lived mental health experience who work in mental health settings. Participants receive 16 individual coaching sessions tailored to job stressors. Re…

This study tests whether a computer-based program called cognitive control training (CCT) can help people with depression feel less negative mood and rumination. Participants with high depression scores complete three sessions of CCT or a comparison task over two weeks. The goal …

This study tested whether listening to liked, non-lyrical background music during virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy helps people with acrophobia (fear of heights) more than VR alone. Sixty Boston University students took part. The goal was to see if music reduces anxiety and …

This completed study tested whether one virtual reality (VR) session could help reduce public speaking anxiety in 1,542 college students. Participants gave a speech in VR after either a positive or negative mood boost. Researchers measured anxiety levels and looked at whether tra…

This study tested whether a wearable robotic suit (called an 'exosuit') could make physical therapy easier and safer for people with low back pain. 44 adults aged 18 to 70 took part. Researchers measured how usable and safe the suit was, and how it affected movement and pain. The…

This small study tested whether a wearable device that uses electrical stimulation can help people who had a stroke walk farther and more efficiently. Four participants completed 12 training sessions over 4-5 weeks. The goal was to see if the device is practical and improves walk…

This study tested a wearable device that uses mild electrical stimulation to help people who have had a stroke walk better. Ten participants with chronic stroke walked on a treadmill and overground with and without the device. The goal was to see if the stimulation could improve …

This study tested a smartphone app designed to help people who have both chronic pain and heavy drinking habits. Researchers wanted to see if the app was easy and acceptable to use, especially for people in rural areas. The study involved 32 participants who used the app for 8 we…

This study investigates whether different types of meditation can alter brain structure and function. Healthy adults will be trained in mindfulness meditation, compassion meditation, or a health education class, and undergo brain scans before and after training. A separate group …

This study tests a new method for measuring the strength of the muscles that extend the fingers, using a force gauge attached to a custom support. Healthy adults will have their finger strength measured three times per hand to see if the device gives consistent results. If reliab…

This study uses brain scans to explore how sleep and mood are connected in people with major depression compared to healthy volunteers. Participants undergo overnight sleep deprivation while researchers measure changes in brain activity, fluid flow, and mood. The goal is to uncov…

This study looks at how the brain plans and produces speech in people who stutter, those with primary progressive aphasia, and healthy speakers. Participants will practice saying made-up words with tricky sound combinations while researchers measure brain activity with MRI and tr…

This trial investigates whether a gentle, noninvasive electrical current applied to the scalp can improve working memory in older adults. Researchers aim to restore the coordination of brain rhythms that tends to decline with age. The study compares memory performance in younger …

This study looks at two simple techniques—cognitive dissonance (writing about your ideal self) and action planning (making a detailed plan)—to help college students improve their studying or exercise habits. Researchers will also measure psychological factors like distress tolera…

This study tested whether a 6-session online class called HEARTS helps autistic adults feel more satisfied with their friendships and dating relationships, compared to a 6-week online discussion group. Ninety-two autistic adults took part over three months, completing surveys abo…

This study looked at how deaf children ages 18 to 60 months learn new words in American Sign Language (ASL). Researchers used eye-tracking and behavior tests to see if kids assume each object has only one sign (mutual exclusivity) or if bilingual deaf children expect two words—on…

This study created and tested a program called Families FORWARD to help parents of autistic teens (ages 14-21) plan for their child's future. 27 families in Massachusetts took part. The program focused on improving family readiness for the teen's transition to adulthood. Research…

This study looked at whether watching a video that highlights how exercise improves mood can increase motivation to work out, compared to a video that focuses on fitness benefits. 48 stressed college students participated. The goal was to see which approach leads to more exercise…

This study looked at 22 people who had a stroke at least 6 months ago and still had trouble walking. Researchers tested two devices: a soft robotic exosuit and an electrical stimulation system, to see which helped improve walking speed and energy use. The goal was to learn which …

This completed observational study looked at how people with Parkinson's disease perceive the world, including unusual experiences like visual hallucinations. Researchers surveyed 54 participants online to see how these perceptual experiences relate to cognition, mood, and sleepi…

This completed online study looked at whether natural environments like parks, gardens, and lakesides can improve mood and cognition in people with and without Parkinson's disease. 97 participants filled out surveys about their connection to nature, depressive symptoms, sleep, an…