Neural Mechanisms of the Sensorymotor Circuit in Sensory Phenomena in OCD

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder

In brief

The goal of this clinical study is to investigate the neural mechanisms of abnormal sensory phenomena in patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and to evaluate whether modulation of the insula-supplementary motor area circuit can improve these symptoms. The study will include adult patients with OCD (with or without sensory phenomena) and healthy volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do patients with OCD show abnormal activity in the insula-SMA circuit compared with healthy controls? * Is this abnormality associated with the presence and severity of abnormal sensory phenomena? * Can low-frequency rTMS targeting the Supplementary Motor Area improve sensory phenomena and obsessive-compulsive symptoms? Researchers will compare an on-line rTMS group (viewing body-focused videos during stimulation) with an off-line rTMS group (resting during stimulation) to evaluate whether task engagement enhances treatment effects. Participants will: * Complete clinical assessments and behavioral tasks. * Undergo EEG and fMRI assessments. * Receive low-frequency rTMS targeting the Supplementary Motor Area. * Repeat assessments after the intervention.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07480408

Run by

Shanghai Mental Health Center

People needed

120

Starts

2026-05-01

Expected to finish

2028-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-20

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 55. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• OCD with abnormal sensory phenomena
• Meet the diagnostic criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
• Aged 18-55 years.
• Score ≥16 on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, indicating moderate to severe symptoms.
• Score >6 on the Sensory Phenomena Scale (SPS), indicating moderate to severe sensory phenomena.
• Right-handed.
• Either medication-free or on stable medication for at least 8 weeks.
• OCD without abnormal sensory phenomena
• Meet the diagnostic criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
• Aged 18-55 years.
• Score ≥16 on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale.
• Score ≤6 on the Sensory Phenomena Scale (SPS).
• Right-handed.
• Either medication-free or on stable medication for at least 8 weeks.

You may not qualify if…

• Meeting diagnostic criteria in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition for psychiatric disorders other than OCD or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
• OCD symptoms so severe that required assessments cannot be completed.
• Presence of severe suicidal ideation or high suicide risk.
• Pregnant women or women planning pregnancy in the near future.
• History of epilepsy or any medical condition that may induce seizures or intracranial hypertension.
• Contraindications to MRI, such as metallic implants.
• Clinically significant medical illnesses or abnormal laboratory findings.
• Inability to complete study procedures due to severe symptoms, low cognitive functioning, or poor cooperation.
• Healthy Controls Inclusion criteria
• No current or past psychiatric disorders meeting diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
• Aged 18-55 years.
• Right-handed. Exclusion criteria
• Pregnant women or women planning pregnancy in the near future. 2. History of epilepsy or any medical condition that may induce seizures or intracranial hypertension.
• Presence of severe suicidal ideation or high suicide risk. 4. Contraindications to MRI, such as metallic implants. 5. Clinically significant medical illnesses or abnormal laboratory findings. 6. Inability to complete study procedures due to severe symptoms, low cognitive functioning, or poor cooperation.

Where it is running

• Shanghai Mental Health Center — Shanghai, China

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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