Active Studies
The work of the Center is carried out through clinical trials that investigate causes of substance use disorders and novel treatments. The findings in these studies often affect the way treatment is delivered in actual healthcare environments. Information about the studies currently being conducted may be accessed through the list below. To inquire about participating, please see the list below, organized by category. Use the contact information provided for the study in which you’re interested.
Nicotine Cessation Studies
Evaluation of Varenicline and Accelerated TMS for Reduction of Nicotine Principal Investigator(s): Jodi Gilman, PhD, Each year, more than 30 million Americans attempt to quit smoking. The gold-standard treatment for nicotine addiction is pharmacotherapy with varenicline, which can reduce nicotine withdrawal and craving during treatment but generally does not lead to lasting abstinence after the medication is discontinued. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been shown to produce lasting changes in nicotine use behaviors and related symptoms. Because varenicline and TMS likely exert their therapeutic effects through different mechanisms, combining these treatments may be more effective than either intervention alone. This study will recruit 30 adults aged 18–65 with nicotine dependence who are interested in reducing or stopping nicotine use. Participants will be randomized to receive varenicline plus either active or sham accelerated TMS (aTMS). The goal of the study is to determine whether the combination of aTMS and varenicline is more effective at promoting nicotine cessation than varenicline treatment alone. The study is currently recruiting participants. Email bwhvtms@mgb.org or call 617-643-5039 to see if you are eligible. Behavioral Intervention for Youth to Promote Vaping Cessation Principal Investigator(s): A. Eden Evins, MD, MPH, and Randi Schuster, PhD Teen vaping is rising, with nearly 20% of adolescents using nicotine in the past month. This trial will enroll 400 teens who vape weekly and want to quit. Participants will be randomized to a 12-week QuitVaping program with behavioral support or Enhanced Usual Care (EUC), which includes educational materials and a text-based quitting app. The study will measure vaping abstinence at 9–12 weeks and up to 36 weeks. The goal of this trial is to determine if behavioral and digital support can improve quitting rates and address the growing issue of youth nicotine addiction. Comparative Effectiveness of Two Tobacco Treatment Delivery Models Principal Investigator(s): A. Eden Evins, MD, MPH People with mental health and substance use disorders have disproportionately high rates of tobacco use disorder and face significant barriers in accessing effective tobacco cessation treatment. This study will enroll adults who smoke cigarettes and receive care through community mental health organizations across different states. Participants will be randomly assigned to either Community-delivered Care Coordination (CCC), in which a community health worker (CHW) provides smoking cessation support twice a month and practical help with quitting smoking and other social needs, or Longitudinal Proactive Outreach (LPO), in which a CHW calls patients every 3 months to offer to refer patients to services for tobacco treatment or help with social needs. This study seeks to compare the effectiveness of these two approaches in improving tobacco abstinence and treatment engagement among people receiving community mental health services. Participants are recruited through partner institutions. Evaluation of Community Health Worker Support to Improve Tobacco Use Disorder Outcomes in Medicaid Beneficiaries with Serious Mental Illness Principal Investigator(s): A. Eden Evins, MD, MPH Adults with serious mental illnesses (SMI) have persistently high prevalence and severity of tobacco use disorder (TUD) but cessation success rates among individuals with SMI remain low. This study will enroll adults with SMI who smoke daily and receive behavioral healthcare through Medicaid. Participants will receive either Enhanced Usual Care (EUC) or Integrated Community Health Worker (CHW) support delivered by trained members of their existing behavioral health care team. This study seeks to evaluate whether CHW support integrated into behavioral health care improves tobacco abstinence and cardiovascular risk in those with SMI and TUD. Participants are recruited through partner institutions. Longitudinal Trajectories of Buprenorphine Adherence following Initial Engagement with a Low-Threshold Bridge Clinic: A Pilot Study Principal Investigator(s): Joanna Streck, Ph.D. There are gaps in research pertaining to Bridge Clinic models; therefore, there is limited knowledge about how, and for whom, Bridge Clinics support buprenorphine initiation, longer-term MOUD adherence, and linkage to care. The purpose of this study is to examine and describe patterns over time of buprenorphine adherence, substance use, and social determinants of health of adults initiating treatment at the MGH Bridge Clinic. Participants will compete two virtual study visits, as well as complete short daily surveys that will be administered via text messages. The study is currently recruiting participants. Call 617-643-5279 to see if you are eligible. Peer Recovery Coaching for Promoting Tobacco Abstinence in People with Opioid Use Disorder Principal Investigator(s): Joanna Streck, Ph.D. Most individuals receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) smoke cigarettes, have difficulty quitting smoking, and are highly likely to die from their tobacco use, yet existing smoking cessation interventions are suboptimal. This pilot randomized controlled trial compares tobacco coaching interventions delivered by a peer recovery coach versus a standard non-peer coach. The goal of this trial is to assess whether peer recovery coaches can help reduce smoking among adults who are receiving MOUD. This study is currently recruiting participants. Email MGHPeerTTSstudy@mgb.org, or call (617) 643-0949 to see if you are eligible. Effect of mindfulness-based neurofeedback for adolescents with elevated repetitive negative thinking Principal Investigator: A. Eden Evins, M.D., MPH and Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli, Ph.D. Recurrent negative thinking (RNT) accompanies serious mental illness (SMI) and is considered a transdiagnostic mediator for vulnerability and outcome in mood and substance use. It is associated with symptom severity, comorbidity, and relapse. Mindfulness encompasses strategies to keep attention to the present moment. Increasing focus to the present moment reduces rumination, depressive symptom severity, and serious mental illness relapse. This study aims to recruit 50 adolescents with RNT and 50 healthy controls, and will analyze the effect of mindfulness practice combined with real-time neurofeedback during an MRI scan in at-risk adolescents to better understand the role of mindfulness in reducing negative thinking. The study is currently recruiting participants. Email cchmindfulnessstudy@mgb.org and see if you are eligible. Measuring Interventions and Network Dynamics – Mindfulness Assessment Platform Principal Investigator: A. Eden Evins, M.D., MPH Mindfulness training has shown promise for reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and repetitive negative thinking, but researchers still do not fully understand how it works in the brain and body or why it helps some people more than others. New tools such as brain imaging, heart rate monitoring, saliva-based biomarkers, and smartphone surveys may help researchers better measure treatment effects and predict who is most likely to benefit. This study will recruit 60 participants aged 16–65 who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Participants will complete mindfulness training, brain scans, and follow-up assessments to measure changes in symptoms, brain activity, and physical stress responses over time. The primary goal of this study is to determine whether mindfulness-based neurofeedback can improve anxiety and depression symptoms and to identify markers that help predict individual treatment The study is currently recruiting participants. Email cchmindfulnessstudy@mgb.org and see if you are eligible. Opioid Studies
Neuroimaging Studies