Machine learning to improve exposure therapy in everyday care
Official title: Leveraging Machine Learning Approaches to Understand Mechanisms of Exposure Therapy in Real-World Settings
Funded at Mclean Hospital · NIH-11285321 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses machine learning on session data from adults with OCD who are receiving exposure therapy to find which therapy processes help people get better.
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 | March 21, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $769,765 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH135899-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11285321 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with diagnosed OCD who are receiving or about to receive exposure-based therapy at participating sites (McLean Hospital or San Diego State University) across outpatient, partial-hospital, or residential programs.
✕Less likely to help
People under 21, those not receiving exposure therapy, or patients treated outside the participating sites are unlikely to be eligible or receive direct benefit.
What this research studies
You would be one of 400 adults with OCD treated at two U.S. sites who give baseline information and weekly symptom reports while receiving exposure therapy across outpatient, partial-hospital, or residential care. During each exposure session researchers will collect self-reports, observer-rated behavior, and physiological measures. They will apply machine learning to these multilevel data to identify which session features predict symptom improvement for different people. The goal is to understand how exposure works in real-world settings so treatment can be better matched to individual needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians tailor exposure therapy so more people with OCD achieve lasting improvement.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies of exposure mechanisms have produced mixed results and been limited to controlled lab settings, so applying machine learning to real-world session data is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Mclean Hospital
Belmont, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuckertz, Jennie M — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kuckertz, Jennie M
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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.