Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Psychotherapy for Treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Purpose

This study will test how people with OCD respond to a type of noninvasive brain stimulation, repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), when it is combined with psychotherapy. Participants will either engage in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy or supportive therapy (ST) while receiving rTMS. Biobehavioral data from wearable devices and smartphones will be collected to better predict treatment responses. Participants will also undergo repeat resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rsfMRI) in order to assess neural predictors and mechanisms of treatment response.

Keywords: OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, TMS, rTMS, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, ERP, psychotherapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, fMRI, ERP, Fitbit

Study Sites

University of Southern California Health Sciences Campus, Los Angeles, California, 90033

 
  • Men & Women
Age icon
18 +
 
 
To find out if you qualify for the study contact The Frank OCD Lab at Franklab@usc.edu or (323) 442-3632. 
 

What's involved?

Study length

  • 16 Weeks

Number of visits

  • Contact the study team

Prescription
    None
Procedures
Compensation

  • May be available, please contact the study team.

Medical cost coverage
    None

Why participate?

Medical advances are impossible without volunteers.

Eligibility

Must have

  • Diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) as determined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria.
  • Live in Southern California and be willing to attend in-person to receive repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) 5 times per week for 6 weeks.
  • Have completed a prior course of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy (at least ten sessions).
  • Currently take or have previously tried Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SRI) medication for OCD.
  • Willing to maintain psychotropic medication levels throughout the 16 weeks of the study.

Can't have

  • Primary psychiatric diagnosis other than OCD
  • Active substance use disorder
  • Active suicidality
  • Active psychosis
  • History of seizures
  • Severe neurological impairment
  • Pregnant or planning to become pregnant
  • Received a prior rTMS course

Visit our Website

https://sites.usc.edu/FrankOCDLab/current-research/

Study Team

Photohandler
Principal Investigator
Adam Frank

For questions about this study, contact:

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