Recruiting

HD-tACS

Sponsor:

Boston University Charles River Campus

Code:

NCT05994053

Conditions

OCD

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

high definition transcranial alternating current stimulation

Study Details

Brief summary:

Although multiple treatments for OCD exist, slow symptom decrease, high remission, and significant side effects for some OCD patients limit their efficacy. More research into the precise neural mechanisms and linked cognitive functions in OCD is also necessary. To address both concerns, this study by Dr. Reinhart and his team will test a new, non-invasive, and well-tolerated neuromodulation method for reducing OCD symptoms, based on reward-related rhythms of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC; a brain region responsible for reward, decision making and other crucial functions that is affected by OCD). This proposal is based on highly encouraging preliminary data in both subsyndromal and treatment-resistant populations that shows rapid reductions in OCD behaviors that last at least 1-3 months. Using high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) guided by EEG brain wave recordings, the study will test whether repetitive modulation of relevant rhythm activity in the OFC can lead to rapid (within five days) and sustainable (up to three months) OCD symptom reduction. This research aims to increase knowledge of OCD and development of effective treatment with minimal side effects.

Conditions

OCD

Study ID

NCT05994053

Start date

Jul 1, 2024

Status verified date

Jul, 2026

Completion date

Aug 31, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug 31, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

(1) a primary DSM-5 diagnosis of OCD, (2) a score of 16 or greater on the YBOCS (3) at least 18 years of age; and (4) willingness and ability to provide informed consent and comply with the requirements of the study protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

(1) a lifetime history of bipolar or psychotic disorders; (2) history of Tourette syndrome; (3) psychosurgery; (4) substance abuse or dependence (other than nicotine) in the past 3 months; (5) organic brain syndrome, mental retardation or other potentially interfering cognitive dysfunction; (6) severe depression (MADRS score of 30 or greater); (7) suicidal risk as determined by moderate or greater score on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS); (8) pregnancy or lactation; (9) changes to pharmacotherapy for OCD or the initiation of cognitive-behavior therapy within the last 3 months; and (10) specific to the tACS and EEG procedures no metal implants in head, any implanted electronic devices, any skin sensitivity, color blindness or impaired vision despite correction, claustrophobia, and any history of epilepsy or neurological disorder.

Study Design

Enrollment

90 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Active HD-tACS

HD-tACS of OFC

sham comparator: Sham HD-tACS

HD-tACS of OFC

Interventions

high definition transcranial alternating current stimulation

low intensity alternating current to OFC

Primary outcome measure

  • YBOCS [ Time Frame: day 5 of intervention ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Robert Reinhart, PhD

6173539481rmgr@bu.edu

Locations

Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (BU-CARD)

Recruiting

Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215

More Information

Sponsor

Boston University Charles River Campus

Last update posted

Jul 23, 2026

Last verified

Jul, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Boston University Charles River Campus on 2026-07-23.