--- title: "Project STEP: Cranial electrotherapy stimulation" description: The purpose of the study is to find out if the at-home use of Alpha Stim Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) is an appropriate and acceptable intervention for firefighters, and whether CES may change how firefighters feel. image: https://www.butler.org/hubfs/-%20BUTLER/ButlerHospitalResearchStudy.jpg --- - [**Pay My Bill](https://www.carenewengland.org/pay/butler-hospital/) - [**Careers](https://www.butler.org/careers) - [**Donate](https://www.butler.org/ways-to-give) - [**My Chart](https://www.carenewengland.org/mychart) - [**+1 (844) 401-0111](tel:+1%20(844)%20401-0111) [![CNE Butler Behavioral Health](https://www.butler.org/hs-fs/hubfs/-%20CNE/CNE%20-%202026%20Branding/CNE%20Butler%20Behavioral%20Health.png?width=1200&height=475&name=CNE%20Butler%20Behavioral%20Health.png)](https://www.butler.org/) ** #### Site Search ** ** ![ # Project STEP: Cranial electrotherapy stimulation ### Formal Study Name Project STEP: Cranial electrotherapy stimulation: Piloting a road to PTSD prevention in first responders ### Study Information The purpose of the study is to find out if the at-home use of Alpha Stim Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) is an appropriate and acceptable intervention for firefighters, and whether CES may change how firefighters feel. The main benefits of this study are to help researchers and clinicians develop future interventions such as CES for the prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder or other mental health issues often seen in first responders. Although this is not a treatment study, CES delivered by the Alpha Stim device has been used to treat anxiety and/or insomnia (difficulty sleeping). You will need to own a smartphone to take part in this study. ### Eligibility Criteria  You may qualify if you: - Active duty firefighter in Rhode Island, USA - Age between 18 and 56 years old - Be in good medical health or, if having chronic medical conditions, these conditions needed to be stable - Ability to speak, read, write, and understand English sufficiently well to complete study procedures and provide informed consent - Has a personal smartphone and being willing to install one or two apps on the phone for study procedures ### Compensation/Reimbursement - Up to $296 in the form of checks or gift cards   #### Contact Form To learn more about the study please contact our research team at [(401) 680-4199](tel:+401-680-4199) or complete the form below. **Organization** Butler Hospital **Area of Study** Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder **Recruitment Status** Open ##### Contact Us [Send Us A Message](https://www.butler.org/contact-us) [+1 (844) 401-0111](tel:+18444010111) 345 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, RI 02906 - [**](https://www.facebook.com/ButlerHospital) - [**](https://twitter.com/ButlerHospital) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/butler-hospital/) ##### Other Care New England Locations [Care New England](https://www.carenewengland.org/) [Kent Hospital](https://www.kentri.org/) [The Providence Center](https://providencecenter.org/) [VNA of Care New England](https://www.vnacarenewengland.org/) [Women & Infants Hospital](https://www.womenandinfants.org/) ##### Patients and Visitors [Find A Provider](https://www.butler.org/provider-finder) [Integra Community Care](https://www.integracare.org/) ##### About Us [Who We Are](https://www.butler.org/about) [Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)](https://www.carenewengland.org/dei) [Research](https://www.butler.org/research) [Legal Notices](https://www.carenewengland.org/legal-notices) [Auxiliary Aids & Services](https://www.carenewengland.org/auxiliary-aids-and-services) [Price Transparency](https://www.carenewengland.org/price-transparency) ##### Get Involved [Ways to Give](https://www.butler.org/ways-to-give) [Careers](https://www.carenewengland.org/careers) [Volunteer](https://www.carenewengland.org/volunteer) ##### News [In The News](https://www.butler.org/news) [Media Relations](https://www.butler.org/media-relations) --- Copyright © 2026 Care New England Health System × You are about to leave our website and enter an external site. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or accuracy of information on the external site. Do you wish to continue? [Yes](https://www.butler.org/studies/project-step-cranial-electrotherapy-stimulation#yes)   [No](https://www.butler.org/studies/project-step-cranial-electrotherapy-stimulation#no)