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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Psychotherapy for OCD

This study is testing a combination treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It involves repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a type of non-invasive brain stimulation, along with either Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy or Supportive Therapy (ST). Researchers want to see how well these combinations work in people with OCD. You may be able to join if you are 18 or older, have an OCD diagnosis, and live in Southern California. The main goal is to measure changes in your OCD symptoms using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) score over 16 weeks. The current status of this study is unclear.

Study design
This is a randomized, controlled pilot study with 48 participants. All participants will receive rTMS, and will be randomly assigned to also receive either ERP or supportive therapy.
What's involved
You would receive rTMS five times a week for six weeks, and therapy virtually twice a week during that time. You will also complete questionnaires, have a brain scan, wear a Fitbit, and do daily smartphone check-ins over 16 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your OCD symptoms will be measured from enrollment until the end of the study at 16 weeks.

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NCT07146438

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Psychotherapy for Treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
Adam Frank
~48 participants
Updated 2025-10-27 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)Supportive Therapy (ST)Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) 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) Score
Measured over From enrollment to end of study at 16 weeks.

Conditions

Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder

Explore related trials

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
California1

Study leadership

  • Adam C. Frank, MD, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Keck School of Medicine of USC

Who to contact

USC Frank OCD Lab
[email protected]
323-442-3632
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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) as determined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria.
Live in Southern California and be willing to attend in-person to receive repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) 5 times per week for 6 weeks.
Have completed a prior course of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy (at least ten sessions)
Currently take or have previously tried Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SRI) medication for OCD
Willing to maintain psychotropic medication levels throughout the 16 weeks of the study

Exclusion

Primary psychiatric diagnosis other than OCD
Active substance use disorder
Active suicidality
Active psychosis
History of seizures
Severe neurological impairment
Pregnant or planning to become pregnant
Received a prior rTMS course

What this trial measures

  • Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) ScoreFrom enrollment to end of study at 16 weeks.

    The investigators will use the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), the gold standard measure of OCD severity, to assess symptom levels. The YBOCS scale assesses five domains of obsessive and compulsive symptoms, which are each scored on a four-point scale, with 0 being "no symptoms" and 4 being "extreme symptoms". Combined scores range from 0 (no symptoms) to 40 (severe symptoms). A trained clinician, blinded to participant treatment, will administer the YBOCS at study enrollment, weekly during rTMS, at study end, and at 2-month follow-up to determine rate of change of YBOCS score, overall change after treatment, and durability of change at follow-up. Greater decreases in YBOCS scores sustained over time represent a better outcome.