Mindfulness Neurofeedback to Enhance Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder
Official title: Mindfulness-based Neurofeedback to augment DBT psychotherapy for adults with Borderline Personality Disorder (MIND-BPD)
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11175460 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores if a special brain training called mindfulness neurofeedback can make Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) even more helpful for adults with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,179,243 |
| NIH project number | 5R61MH135009-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11175460 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults aged 21 and older who have Borderline Personality Disorder and are interested in participating in both neurofeedback and DBT skills group training.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have Borderline Personality Disorder or are unable to participate in mindfulness meditation or neurofeedback may not receive benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project is a clinical trial for adults with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) that combines a special brain training called mindfulness-based neurofeedback (mbNF) with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills groups. During mbNF, you would practice mindfulness meditation while receiving real-time feedback on your brain activity, helping you learn to focus your mind better. The goal is to strengthen the brain areas involved in mindfulness, which could make DBT more effective. We hope this combination will lead to greater benefits than DBT skills groups alone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make an established therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder more effective and potentially less intensive for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using mindfulness-based neurofeedback have shown promising results in decreasing certain brain activity patterns, suggesting a foundation for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fineberg, Sarah K — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Fineberg, Sarah K
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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.