Skip to content
Bored Studies
RecruitingAccepts healthy volunteers

Neuromodulation for a Novel OCD Biomarker and Treatment

Boston University Charles River Campus · NCT05994053

View Study & Apply (opens in a new tab)

Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18+ · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
90
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
July 1, 2024
Record last updated
July 23, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

Although multiple treatments for OCD exist, slow symptom decrease, high remission, and significant side effects for some OCD patients limit their efficacy. More research into the precise neural mechanisms and linked cognitive functions in OCD is also necessary. To address both concerns, this study by Dr. Reinhart and his team will test a new, non-invasive, and well-tolerated neuromodulation method for reducing OCD symptoms, based on reward-related rhythms of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC; a brain region responsible for reward, decision making and other crucial functions that is affected by OCD). This proposal is based on highly encouraging preliminary data in both subsyndromal and treatment-resistant populations that shows rapid reductions in OCD behaviors that last at least 1-3 months. Using high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) guided by EEG brain wave recordings, the study will test whether repetitive modulation of relevant rhythm activity in the OFC can lead to rapid (within five days) and sustainable (up to three months) OCD symptom reduction. This research aims to increase knowledge of OCD and development of effective treatment with minimal side effects.

Being studied: high definition transcranial alternating current stimulation

Conditions: OCD

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

(1) a primary DSM-5 diagnosis of OCD, (2) a score of 16 or greater on the YBOCS (3) at least 18 years of age; and (4) willingness and ability to provide informed consent and comply with the requirements of the study protocol.

Exclusion Criteria

(1) a lifetime history of bipolar or psychotic disorders; (2) history of Tourette syndrome; (3) psychosurgery; (4) substance abuse or dependence (other than nicotine) in the past 3 months; (5) organic brain syndrome, mental retardation or other potentially interfering cognitive dysfunction; (6) severe depression (MADRS score of 30 or greater); (7) suicidal risk as determined by moderate or greater score on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS); (8) pregnancy or lactation; (9) changes to pharmacotherapy for OCD or the initiation of cognitive-behavior therapy within the last 3 months; and (10) specific to the tACS and EEG procedures no metal implants in head, any implanted electronic devices, any skin sensitivity, color blindness or impaired vision despite correction, claustrophobia, and any history of epilepsy or neurological disorder.

Recruiting US locations

  • Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (BU-CARD)

    Boston, MA 02215

    Site contact: Michael Otto, PhD

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Robert Reinhart, PhD · 6173539481 · rmgr@bu.edu
All mental health studies in Massachusetts →
Neuromodulation for a Novel OCD Biomarker and Treatment (NCT05994053) | Bored Studies