Assessing how people respond to threats using mobile technology
Official title: Mobile Measures of Threat Sensitivity for Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Assessment
Funded at Mclean Hospital · NIH-11218715 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to create new ways to understand how people react to feelings of threat, which can help those dealing with anxiety and PTSD, by using mobile technology to track their emotions in real-time with a large group of 75,000 participants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mclean Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2020 |
| Project end | April 23, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $70,946 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH121617-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11218715 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals experiencing anxiety, PTSD, or other psychiatric conditions related to threat sensitivity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without any psychiatric conditions or those who do not experience anxiety or related symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop and validate new methods for measuring how individuals process threat-related information, which is crucial for understanding various psychiatric conditions like anxiety and PTSD. By utilizing mobile technology, the study will gather real-time data on participants' experiences of threat sensitivity, capturing fluctuations in their emotional responses over time. The research will involve a large sample of 75,000 participants to ensure the measures are reliable and applicable across different populations. This innovative approach seeks to create tools that can be used frequently and easily in clinical settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate assessments of threat sensitivity, improving diagnosis and treatment for patients with anxiety and other mental health disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using mobile technology for psychological assessments, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Mclean Hospital
Belmont, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Germine, Laura Thi — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: Germine, Laura Thi
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.