Can brain training tame emotional storms in BPD?

NCT ID NCT06626789

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether real-time brain training (amygdala neurofeedback) can help people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) feel less intense negative emotions. Participants will either receive real feedback from their own brain activity or a fake (sham) signal while viewing emotional pictures. The goal is to see if learning to calm the amygdala—a brain region linked to emotional reactions—can reduce emotional ups and downs in daily life.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: real-time fMRI neurofeedback targeting the amygdala
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a new, non-drug way to help people with borderline personality disorder gain better control over overwhelming emotions.
What could go wrong: This is an early-phase trial with only 164 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The effect might be no better than a placebo (sham) training, and benefits may be small or temporary.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

borderline personality disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Central Institute of Mental Health
RECRUITING

Mannheim, 68159, Germany
University Clinic Halle (Saale)
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Halle, Germany
University Clinic Tuebingen
RECRUITING

Tübingen, 72076, Germany
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
RECRUITING

Hamburg, Germany
University clinic Freiburg
RECRUITING

Freiburg im Breisgau, 79104, Germany
University clinic Giessen
RECRUITING

Giessen, 35392, Germany

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