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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Accelerated Theta-Burst Stimulation for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

N/A
Recruiting
Led By Nolan Williams, MD
Research Sponsored by Stanford University
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Stable on Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor (SRI) medication for at least 8 weeks prior to (with plans to continue throughout) the study. Note: Medications that are known to increase cortical excitability (e.g., buprorion, maprotiline, tricyclic antidepressants, classical antipsychotics) or to have an inhibitory effect on brain excitability (e.g., anti-convulsants, benzodiazepines, and atypical antipsychotics), or any other medications with relative hazard for use in TMS will be allowed upon review of medications and/or motor threshold determination by TMS specialist
Capacity to provide informed consent
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up baseline (pretreatment) to immediate post-treatment follow up
Awards & highlights

Study Summary

This trial will test if an accelerated schedule of theta-burst stimulation using a TMS device can help people with OCD who haven't responded to other treatments.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults with moderate to severe OCD who haven't responded well to standard treatments like SRIs or cognitive behavioral therapy. Participants must be stable on SRI medication for at least 8 weeks and able to undergo study procedures. Excluded are those with substance abuse issues, severe depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, certain medical conditions like seizures or brain injuries, pregnant or nursing women, and anyone planning CBT during the study.Check my eligibility
What is being tested?
The trial tests an accelerated form of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) called theta-burst stimulation in two different brain areas: the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) and the right orbitofrontal cortex (rOFC). Participants will be randomly assigned to receive treatment at one of these sites.See study design
What are the potential side effects?
Potential side effects from TMS may include discomfort at the stimulation site, headache, lightheadedness, tingling or spasms in facial muscles. Rarely it can cause seizures. Most side effects are mild and temporary.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I have been taking the same SRI medication for at least 8 weeks and plan to continue during the study.
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I understand and can agree to the study's procedures and risks.
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I have tried or refused standard OCD treatments like SRI or therapy.
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I have been diagnosed with OCD and it's moderately severe.
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I can handle the procedures involved in the study.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~baseline (pretreatment) to immediate post-treatment follow up
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and baseline (pretreatment) to immediate post-treatment follow up for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Outcome measures can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary outcome measures
Percentage change in Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)
Secondary outcome measures
Percent change in the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R)

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Active Control
Group I: right OFCActive Control1 Intervention
This arm will receive continuous theta-burst stimulation to the right OFC site.
Group II: bilateral DMPFCActive Control1 Intervention
This arm will receive intermittent theta-burst stimulation to bilateral DMPFC site.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Stanford UniversityLead Sponsor
2,378 Previous Clinical Trials
17,333,179 Total Patients Enrolled
15 Trials studying Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
1,223 Patients Enrolled for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Nolan Williams, MDPrincipal InvestigatorStanford University
16 Previous Clinical Trials
1,052 Total Patients Enrolled
1 Trials studying Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
360 Patients Enrolled for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Ian Kratter, MD, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorStanford University
2 Previous Clinical Trials
90 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Active bilateral DMPFC (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT04286126 — N/A
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Research Study Groups: right OFC, bilateral DMPFC
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Clinical Trial 2023: Active bilateral DMPFC Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT04286126 — N/A
Active bilateral DMPFC (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT04286126 — N/A
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Patient Testimony for trial: Trial Name: NCT04286126 — N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

Does this trial accommodate those aged fifty or above?

"This medical trial is open to individuals 18-80 years of age. There are 23 studies for minors and 67 separate trials for seniors over 65."

Answered by AI

Is it feasible to take part in this medical trial?

"The clinical trial is recruiting 180 individuals with a DSM-5 diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) who have attained the age of majority but are below 80 years old. In order to qualify, they must display moderate severity in OCD as determined by their YBOCS score and demonstrate stable use of SRI medication for 8 weeks prior to joining the study. The candidates also need to have unsuccessfully gone through an APA approved first line treatment or rejected these treatments due to individual reasons, be able to provide informed consent, tolerate all required procedures, and pass screening forms at Stanford CNI without any contraindications."

Answered by AI

Does this clinical trial still have participants available for enrollment?

"According to clinicaltrials.gov, recruitment for this medical study is still open. It was initially advertised on 15th January 2021 and the most recent update occurred during 20th December of the same year."

Answered by AI

What are the desired results of this clinical investigation?

"The primary outcome measure of this clinical trial, assessed after the duration of treatment, is the percentage change in Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS). Secondary outcomes encompass changes from baseline functional connectivity to 1 month post-treatment via resting state fMRI between subcallosal cingulate and default mode network as well as within it. Furthermore, there will be a Percentage Change in Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9) scores with higher scores representing greater severity, and finally a comparison between baseline and each day's treatment regarding functional connectivities."

Answered by AI

Who else is applying?

What state do they live in?
California
What site did they apply to?
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine
What portion of applicants met pre-screening criteria?
Met criteria
How many prior treatments have patients received?
1

What questions have other patients asked about this trial?

How long do screening visits take?
PatientReceived 2+ prior treatments

Why did patients apply to this trial?

I’ve tried multiple medications/therapies for over 17 years and am still struggling.
PatientReceived 1 prior treatment
I’ve tried a few different coping mechanisms, and even medication but nothing seems to help. And all these years I just thought it was nothing. I was certainly wrong. The anxiety at times is unbearable, and will feel like my heart is cramping up. I’ll say that for now, but I have a whole lot more to tell.
PatientReceived 1 prior treatment
Recent research and studies
~50 spots leftby Jul 2025