TMS + Exposure Therapy for Pediatric OCD

Running, not enrolling · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare different forms of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for improving the outcomes of Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) in youth and young adults with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Researchers will compare three groups: ERP with one of two different active ("real") forms of TMS vs. ERP with sham ("fake") TMS. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1) whether TMS normalizes functioning in brain circuits that contribute to compulsive behavior, and 2) whether TMS reduces compulsions during ERP. Participants will: * Complete clinical interviews, questionnaires, and computerized tasks * Complete two MRIs (brain scans) * Receive daily TMS followed by ERP for two weeks (10 sessions)

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05931913

Run by

Bradley Hospital

People needed

50

Starts

2024-03-20

Expected to finish

2029-10-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-24

Who can join

Age: 12 and older, up to 21. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Between the ages of 12 and 21 years.
• Presence of OCD, as indicated by a score of > 16 on the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, indicating moderate or greater OCD symptoms.
• Presence of motor compulsions on CY-BOCS compulsion checklist
• English fluency to ensure comprehension of informed consent and study measures and instructions.

You may not qualify if…

• Decline to provide informed consent.
• Has a personal history, or a family history in a first-born relative, of any medical or psychiatric disorder, disease, condition, injury, symptoms or circumstance that, in the opinion of the principal investigator, may: (1) impact the risk profile of TMS; (2) reduce the subject's ability to fulfill the study requirements as per protocol; or (3) adversely impact the integrity of the data or the validity of the study results." Some examples include: epilepsy or seizure disorder(s), bipolar disorder or any psychiatric disorder associated with a risk of mania, intracranial pathology, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, stroke, implanted medical devices or metallic objects in the head, or moderate-severe heart disease
• Pregnant according to the medical history or a urine pregnancy test; and menstruating females who are heterosexually active and not using a highly effective form of contraception (tubal ligation, FDA-approved hormonal contraceptive, or an IUD)
• Inability to undergo MRI.
• Left handedness.
• Is deemed to be at imminent risk of suicide according to the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) (i.e. answers YES to ≥ one (1) of the four screening questions) and/or in the medical opinion of the investigator
• History of, or risk factors for, neurocardiogenic syncope (history of syncope/ presyncope related to noxious stimuli, anxiety, micturation, or posture).
• Concurrent psychotherapy of any kind for OCD.
• Concurrent TMS or receipt of any TMS experimental or clinical treatment less than 3 months prior to enrollment.
• Taking a medication deemed to pose high seizurogenic potential per physician review
• Taking a medication that has not reached stability criterion (same medication and dose for 6 weeks with no planned changes over the study period)

Where it is running

• University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
• Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital — Riverside, Rhode Island, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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