Barbara L. Niles, PhD

Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Niles is a staff psychologist in the Behavioral Science Division of the National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System and Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral at Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. Her research focuses on the promotion of health-enhancing behaviors such as exercise and mindfulness meditation in traumatized individuals. Dr. Niles has active research collaborations with other Psychiatry faculty and contributes to the research training of BU-affiliated postdoctoral fellows. In addition, she provides direct clinical training of psychology interns and post-doctoral fellows in the Boston Consortium in Clinical Psychology.

Publications

  • Published 7/15/2025

    Straud CL, Buccellato KH, Foa EB, Brown LA, McLean CP, Blount TH, Schobitz RP, DeBeer BB, Mignogna J, Fina BA, Hall-Clark BN, Schrader CC, Yarvis JS, Jacoby VM, Evans WR, Litz BT, Meyer EC, Niles BL, Young-McCaughan S, Keane TM, Peterson AL. Differential Effects of Hazardous Drinking on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Outcomes Across Two Prolonged Exposure Treatment Formats. Behav Sci (Basel). 2025 Jul 15; 15(7). PMID: 40723738.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/5/2025

    Polizzi CP, Katz E, Ting M, Busser C, Paszkiewicz M, Barden E, Mori DL, Niles BL. Physical Activity and Functioning Following Tai Chi and a Wellness Comparison Intervention in Veterans with Gulf War Illness. Behav Med. 2025; 51(4):347-357. PMID: 40470637.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/6/2025

    Olff M, Hein I, Amstadter AB, Armour C, Skogbrott Birkeland M, Bui E, Cloitre M, Ehlers A, Ford JD, Greene T, Hansen M, Harnett NG, Kaminer D, Lewis C, Minelli A, Niles B, Nugent NR, Roberts N, Price M, Reffi AN, Seedat S, Seligowski AV, Vujanovic AA. The impact of trauma and how to intervene: a narrative review of psychotraumatology over the past 15 years. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2025 Dec; 16(1):2458406. PMID: 39912534.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/23/2025

    Gurewich D, Hunt K, Bokhour B, Fix G, Friedman H, Li M, Linsky AM, Niles B, Dichter M. Screening and Referral for Social Needs Among Veterans: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2025 Aug; 40(11):2732-2739. PMID: 39849274.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/16/2024

    Niles BL, Kaiser AP, Crow T, McQuade M, Polizzi C, Palumbo C, Krengel M, Sullivan K, Wang C, Mori DL. Tai Chi and Wellness Interventions for Veterans with Gulf War Illness: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial. Int J Behav Med. 2024 Dec 16. PMID: 39681780.

    Read at: PubMed

Other Positions

  • Psychologist, National Center for PTSD
    VA Boston Healthcare System

Education

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick, PhD
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick, MS
  • Harvard University, AB