Jordana Muroff
Professor and Chair of Clinical Practice
Jordana Muroff is passionate about developing empirically supported mental health interventions based in strong community collaborations to make them more easily disseminated, linguistically appropriate and culturally relevant. She is particularly interested in health technology innovations that help address health inequities, stigma and structural oppression. “There is a dearth of culturally and linguistically competent mental health services for Latinx populations in the US and greater reliance on mobile technology to access the internet,” she explains. “Phone and internet access are no longer just a ‘convenience’ but a ‘necessity.’”
Muroff is the author of Group Treatment for Hoarding Disorder: Therapist Guide (Oxford University Press, 2014). Her research on mental health (e.g., hoarding) and substance use disorders has appeared in American Journal of Public Health and Depression and Anxiety.
Her ongoing work on hoarding has resulted in numerous research grants and community resources. More information on hoarding resources can be found here.
At BU, Muroff serves on the Strategic Planning Task Force’s Committee on Scholarly Resources and Services—Libraries and as a field instructor for MSW students in collaboration with community partners in housing and mental health services. Outside of the university, she is a member of the pre-conference and conference subcommittees for the Annual Conference of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and an editorial board member for the Oxford University Press ABCT Series on Implementation of Clinical Approaches.
Specialties
• Developing and testing empirically supported mental health interventions (e.g., group cognitive behavioral treatment [CBT] for hoarding)
• Developing and testing technology supported mental health interventions (e.g., web-based, smartphone)
• Reducing disparities and improving access to mental health services for vulnerable populations
Related News
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- Dr. Jordana Muroff Promoted to Professor at BU School of Social Work
BU School of Social Work (BUSSW) is proud to announce the promotion of Dr. Jordana Muroff to professor. A dedicated researcher-clinician, Muroff’s work focuses on developing evidence-based mental health assessments and interventions. She achieves this through strong community collaborations and technology innovation, with an emphasis on making services more accessible, engaging, and culturally and linguistically […]
- BUSSW at SSWR: Presentations & Community-Building at 2025 Annual Conference
Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) will have an impressive presence at the 2025 Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) Annual Conference held in Seattle, Washington, January 15-19, 2025. BUSSW faculty, doctoral students and alumni will present their research to colleagues from across the country in dozens of program sessions, disseminating new findings that […]
Education
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BA (Psychology)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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MSW (Interpersonal Practice & Mental Health)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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PhD (Social Work & Psychology)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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Postdoctoral Fellowship
Department of Veteran’s Affairs, HSR&D Center of Excellence, University of Michigan, Center for Behavioral and Decision Sciences in Medicine
Courses
CP 781 Clinical Social Work Assessment and Intervention
CP 795 Cognitive and Behavioral Treatment
CP 770 Clinical Practice with Individuals
SR 904 Quantitative Clinical Research Methods
Publications
*Tooke, A., Konrad, J., & Muroff, J. (2016). Towards automatic assessment of compulsive hoarding from images. ICIP, 2016.
Tolin, D.F., Frost, R.O., Steketee, G., Muroff, J. (2015) Cognitive behavioral therapy for hoarding disorder: A meta-analysis. Depression and Anxiety, 32(3), 158-166.
Muroff, J., Steketee, G., Frost, R., & Tolin, D. (2014). Cognitive behavioral therapy for hoarding disorder: Follow-up findings and predictors of outcome. Depression and Anxiety, 31(12), 964-971.
Muroff, J., Underwood, P. & Steketee, G. (2014). Group treatment for hoarding disorder: Therapist guide. New York: Oxford University Press.
Muroff, J., Steketee, G, Bratiotis, C., & *Ross, A. (2012). Group cognitive and behavioral therapy and bibliotherapy for hoarding: A pilot trial. Depression and Anxiety, 29(7), 597-604.
Muroff, J. (2011). Thinking outside the box: Novel delivery methods for treating hoarding. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 4, 280-296.
Muroff, J., Steketee, G., Himle, J., & Frost, R. (2010). Delivery of internet treatment for compulsive hoarding (D.I.T.C.H.). Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48(1), 79-85.
Muroff, J., Steketee, G., *Rasmussen, J. *Gibson, A., *Bratiotis, C. Sorrentino, C. (2009). Group cognitive behavioral treatment for compulsive hoarding: A preliminary trial. Depression and Anxiety, 26, 634-640.
Muroff, J., Edelsohn, G., Joe, S., Ford, B. (2008). The role of race in diagnostic and disposition decision-making in a pediatric psychiatric emergency service (PES). General Hospital Psychiatry, 30(3), 269-276.
Muroff, J. R., Jackson, J. S., Mowbray, C.T., & Himle, J.A. (2007). The influence of gender, patient volume and time on clinical diagnostic decision-making in the psychiatric emergency services (PES). General Hospital Psychiatry, 29, 481-488.
*Denotes student participation in project
Presentations
Edsell-Vetter, J. & Muroff, J. (2016, July). Paths toward change: Innovative approaches in training, assessment, and interventions for hoarding. Paper presented at the 23rd Annual Conference of the International OCD Foundation, Chicago, IL.
Muroff, J., Underwood, P., Steketee, G. (2015, August). Group CBT for hoarding delivered in a community setting: Follow-up results. Paper presented at the 22nd Annual Conference of the International OCD Foundation, Boston, MA.
Muroff, J., *Robinson, W., Chassler, D., Lopez, L.M., Dargon-Hart, S, Stewart, E., De Jesus, D., Dinauer, S, Johnson, K., Lundgren, L.M. (2015, January). Use of a smartphone application for Latinos with mental health and substance abuse disorders. Paper presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, New Orleans, LA.
Muroff, J., Bratiotis, C,. Kane, J., Scammell, M., *Prado, M., *Chiger, A., & *Russ, A. (2014, November). Hoarding intervention in public housing: A pilot study. Paper presented at the 48th Annual Convention for the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.
Kelley, A.A., Muroff, J., Steketee, G., *Wernick, J., Glossner, K., Busfield, J., Frost, R., & Tolin, D. (2014, March). All in the family: Hoarding across the generations. Paper presented at the 34th Anxiety Disorders Association of America Annual Conference. Chicago, IL.
Muroff, J., & Steketee, G. (2013, July). Identifying core vulnerabilities for hoarding among young adults. Paper presented at the 6th World Congress of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Lima, Peru.
Muroff, J. (2013, January). Interventions in the real world: A lot at stake. Symposium organizer and Paper presented (Group treatment for hoarding: a community-based pilot) at the 17th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, San Diego, CA.
Muroff, J., Steketee, G., Frost, R., & Tolin, D. (2011, March). CBT for hoarding: What works best, so far. Paper presented at the 31st Annual Conference of Anxiety Disorders Association of America Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Muroff, J. (2010, November). Web-based cognitive behavioral (CBT) interventions for hoarding. Paper presented at the 44th Annual Convention for the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, San Francisco, CA.
Storch, E.A., Muroff, J., Lewin, A.B., Geller, D., *Ross, A., McCarthy, K., Morgan, J., Frost, R., & Steketee, G. (2010, November). Development and psychometric evaluation of the children’s saving inventory. Paper presented at the 44th Annual Convention for the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, San Francisco, CA.
*Denotes student participation in project
Grants
Principal Investigator. (2016-2019). CASA CHESS: Smartphone Technology to Enhance Engagement with Behavioral and Primary Care Services Among Latinos with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders. Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Co-Principal Investigator. Co-PI: Konrad. (2015-2016). Towards Automatic, Image-Based Assessment of Hoarding. 2015 Dean’s Catalyst Award, Boston University College of Engineering.
Principal Investigator. (2013-2016). Smartphone Technology to Reduce Relapse Among Latinos with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders. Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Principal Investigator. (2009-2010). The Role of Coaching in Treating Compulsive Hoarding. Grants for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarship (GUTS), Boston University.
Co-Principal Investigator. (PI: Ruth). (2007-2009). Suicide Education Enhancement Project (SEEP). Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Suicide Prevention.
Principal Investigator. (2007-2008). Delivery of Internet Treatment for Compulsive Hoarding (DITCH). Obsessive Compulsive Foundation.
(2007-2008). Group Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Compulsive Hoarding. Boston University School of Social Work, Dean’s Award.
(2006-2007). Building Resilient Immigrant Families: Fortaleciendo a Familias Immigrantes. Faculty Development Grant, Adelphi University, in collaboration with Araujo, B.
Professional Activities and Certifications
2016-Present: Program Chair, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Awards and Honors
2016: Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Fellow.
2010: Recipient, Beck Institute Scholarship Competition.
2006: NIH Summer Institute on Design and Development of Quantitative Research on Social Work Interventions in Health.
2004: PhD Dissertation Minority Health Statistics Grant Program Award.
2003: Rackham One-Term Dissertation Fellowship, University of Michigan.
2003: Spot (clinical service) Award, Department of Social Work, University of Michigan Health System.