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RECRUITINGINTERVENTIONAL

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Extinction in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Characterization and Modulation of Functional Connectivity and Fear Extinction Abnormalities in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with substantial impairments in quality of life and is among the most disabling psychiatric disorders. Exposure therapy is among the first-line of treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) . Extinction learning is thought to be a core mechanism of therapeutic exposure. Fear and safety signal learning are traditionally associated with activity and connectivity within the canonical corticolimbic "fear circuit", which includes the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and hippocampus. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulation technology that can augment brain plasticity, learning, and memory. The proposed study will test if obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with inhibitory safety learning deficits and if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) normalizes functional connectivity and safety signal processing to recover extinction deficits in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - All Participant Inclusion Criteria would include: 1. 18 years of age or older 2. speak English fluently, and 3. able to provide written and verbal willing to sign a consent form. - Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Inclusion Criteria would include: 1. meet criteria for OCD as determined by structured clinical interview 2. exhibit significant current symptoms of OCD 3. report duration of OCD symptoms of at least 1-year 4. OCD symptoms are primary or co-primary relative to other psychiatric diagnoses 5. stable psychiatric treatment (≥8-weeks) or no active treatment. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - All Participant Exclusion Criteria would include: 1. active severe substance use disorder(s) 2. acute suicidality 3. history of bipolar or psychotic disorder(s) 4. significant developmental disabilities 5. loss of consciousness \> 10 minutes 6. history of traumatic brain injury 7. major neurological disease 8. a positive pregnancy test 9. other brain stimulation or magnetic resonance imaging contraindications 10. new psychological treatment within the past 8 weeks 11. active anxiolytic medication use (e.g., benzodiazepine). - Non-Clinical Control Exclusion Criteria would include: 1. meet current criteria for a psychiatric disorder as determined by structured clinical interview 2. active-psychotropic medications. Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: * All Participant Inclusion Criteria would include: 1. 18 years of age or older 2. speak English fluently, and 3. able to provide written and verbal informed consent. * Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Inclusion Criteria would include: 1. meet criteria for OCD as determined by structured clinical interview 2. exhibit significant current symptoms of OCD 3. report duration of OCD symptoms of at least 1-year 4. OCD symptoms are primary or co-primary relative to other psychiatric diagnoses 5. stable psychiatric treatment (≥8-weeks) or no active treatment. Exclusion Criteria: * All Participant Exclusion Criteria would include: 1. active severe substance use disorder(s) 2. acute suicidality 3. history of bipolar or psychotic disorder(s) 4. significant developmental disabilities 5. loss of consciousness \> 10 minutes 6. history of traumatic brain injury 7. major neurological disease 8. a positive pregnancy test 9. other brain stimulation or magnetic resonance imaging contraindications 10. new psychological treatment within the past 8 weeks 11. active anxiolytic medication use (e.g., benzodiazepine). * Non-Clinical Control Exclusion Criteria would include: 1. meet current criteria for a psychiatric disorder as determined by structured clinical interview 2. active-psychotropic medications.

Treatments Being Tested

DEVICE

Active transcranial direct current stimulation

Multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation will be delivered. The anode will be placed over the frontal pole (Fpz, 10-20 electroencephalogram \[EEG\]) and will be surrounded by 5 return electrodes (cathodes). Current will be set at 1.5mA and will be ramped in and out for 30 seconds at the beginning and end of a 20-minute stimulation period.

DEVICE

Sham transcranial direct current stimulation

Multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation will be delivered. The anode will be placed over the frontal pole (Fpz, 10-20 electroencephalogram \[EEG\]) and will be surrounded by 5 return electrodes (cathodes). Current will be set at 1.5mA and will be ramped in and out for 30 seconds at the beginning of a 20-minute period.

Locations (1)

Temple Medical Center
New Haven, Connecticut, United States