The PRP collaborates across multiple clinical research programs in the outpatient Psychiatry Department at MGH. Below is a list of project areas within the PRP:

Longitudinal Study of Physiologic Concordance, Alliance, and Empathy During Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Depression:
To study the relationship between physiologic concordance between patient and clinician during psychotherapy over time and how the changes in the physiologic relationship are related to the development of the therapeutic alliance, empathy and outcome in depression.

A Naturalistic Study of CBT and Psychodynamic Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa:
A study of the relative effectiveness of the two most commonly practiced forms of psychotherapy in the community for bulimia.

Patient Variables and Placebo Response in Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
This research project involves intensive study of the videotaped interactions between acupunturists and their patients during both placebo and genuine acupuncture treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. We are interested in determining whether the same sorts of interpersonal processes that occur in psychotherapy also to some extent in other forms of treatment.  In addition, we will identify the particular aspects of the patient-practitioner relationship that are most important for producing positive treatment outcomes, both in placebo and genuine treatment.

NIH Roadmap Grant: An Integrative Healing Model in Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
To develop an integrative healing model for the treatment of IBS by integrating concepts, research designs, and analytic methodologies from placebo studies, genetics, social epidemiology, physiology, and anthropology.

Enhancing the Placebo Effect in Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
A study to determine whether placebo effects in IBS can be manipulated like “dose dependence” in drug studies by varying the quantity and quality of the doctor-patient interaction. It will also investigate the efficacy of true acupuncture as compared to placebo acupuncture.

The Reliability of the Placebo Effect in Asthma:
To investigate whether the placebo response in asthma is reliable across repeated administrations of a placebo and consistent across different types of placebos, and to identify the characteristics of reliable and consistent placebo responders.

Empirical Validation of Change Processes in Long-term Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy:
A study to examine process variables and outcome in a two-year videotaped psychotherapy using the Psychotherapy Process Q-set and a variety of outcome measures. 

Transition to Parenthood for Couples Conceiving Through IVF: A Couples Group Intervention:
This study assesses the impact of a couples' group intervention on first-time parents who have conceived through in vitro fertilization as they transition into parenthood.

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