Understanding social isolation and loneliness in serious mental health conditions
Official title: Neurobehavioral mechanisms of social isolation and loneliness in serious mental illness
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11111365 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to better understand why people with serious mental health conditions often feel socially isolated and lonely, using advanced brain imaging and digital tools.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $733,217 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH127265-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11111365 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future related studies would be individuals living with serious mental health conditions who experience social isolation or loneliness.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience social isolation or loneliness as a primary concern may not directly benefit from this specific line of inquiry.
What this research studies
Many people living with serious mental health conditions experience significant social isolation and feelings of loneliness, which can deeply affect their daily lives and overall well-being. Currently, there are no specific treatments to prevent or reverse these challenging experiences. This work seeks to uncover the brain and psychological factors that contribute to social isolation and loneliness in these conditions. By using advanced brain imaging and smartphone-based assessments, we hope to learn more about how these feelings change over time and what makes some individuals more vulnerable.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to help patients with serious mental health conditions overcome social isolation and loneliness, improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that social isolation and loneliness have both shared and distinct brain patterns, and this project builds on those findings with a new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holt, Daphne J — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Holt, Daphne J
Related research
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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.