Understanding how fear can return after treatment for anxiety
Official title: Using latent cause modeling and neurofeedback to understand fear relapse and its relationship to anxiety
Funded at Princeton University · NIH-11165469 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why some people feel anxious again after treatment for anxiety and aims to help improve therapy by understanding how different people react to fear and safety signals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $76,756 |
| NIH project number | 1F32MH140486-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11165469 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with anxiety disorders who have undergone exposure therapy and are experiencing fear relapse.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have anxiety disorders or those who have not participated in exposure therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates why some individuals experience a return of fear after undergoing exposure therapy for anxiety disorders. By using advanced techniques like latent cause modeling and neurofeedback, the study aims to identify individual differences in how people process fear and safety associations. Participants will engage in tasks designed to reveal their responses to fear and safety cues, helping researchers understand the neural mechanisms behind these responses. The ultimate goal is to improve treatment outcomes for anxiety by addressing the reasons behind fear relapse.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for anxiety disorders by reducing the likelihood of fear relapse.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding fear responses and treatment outcomes, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Princeton University
Princeton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hennings, Augustin Cole — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Hennings, Augustin Cole
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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.