Light Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

This study is exploring whether light therapy can help young adults (ages 17-35) with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) who tend to go to bed late (1 AM or later). Researchers want to see if wearing special light therapy glasses for one hour each morning for five weeks can reduce OCD symptoms and adjust the body's internal clock. They will compare different doses of light therapy to understand its effects. To join, you must have an OCD diagnosis, be between 17 and 35 years old, go to bed at 1 AM or later, and speak English. The study plans to enroll 40 participants, but its current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 40 participants. Researchers will compare a higher dose of light therapy to a lower dose.
What's involved
You would wear light therapy glasses for one hour each morning and track your sleep daily for five weeks. You will also complete a one-time assessment of light sensitivity.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
OCD symptoms will be measured at baseline, in week 3, and post-treatment (over 7 weeks total).

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06720090

Light Therapy for Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Recruiting
EARLY_PHASE1Ages 17–35InterventionalTreatment
Washington University School of Medicine
~40 participants
Updated 2026-08-18 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Light therapy

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)
Measured over Administered at baseline, in treatment week 3, and post-treatment (3 administrations over 7 weeks)
+1 more outcome measured
OCD
1 sites across 1 states
Missouri1
  • Rebecca Cox, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Washington University School of Medicine

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  • Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)Administered at baseline, in treatment week 3, and post-treatment (3 administrations over 7 weeks)

    A retrospective clinical interview of OCD symptom severity. Score range from 0 to 40 and higher scores indicate more severe OCD symptoms.

  • Daily Perseverative Thinking QuestionnaireAdministered 4 times/day for 2 weeks at baseline, 4 times/day for 1 week in treatment week 3, and 4 times/day for 1 week in treatment week 5

    Self-report measure of momentary transdiagnostic repetitive negative thinking. Score range from 6 to 42 and higher scores indicate more severe repetitive negative thinking.