We are currently enrolling treatment studies on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), please see below. Additionally, we frequently develop new research studies and have created a Volunteer Research Registry to keep people updated on studies for which they might be eligible. If you would like to be contacted about any new research studies, please complete the Volunteer Research Registry.
Treatment studies
Improving Attentional and Cognitive Control in the Psychological Treatment of Repetitive Negative Thinking
PI: Ryan J. Jacoby, Ph.D.
Purpose of the study: Many people struggle with unwanted intrusive thoughts that are difficult to control and cause them distress. We are conducting a research study to learn whether psychological treatment can help people with three types of repetitive negative thinking who have trouble stopping unwanted thoughts and shifting their attention: obsessions (as seen in obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD), worries (as seen in generalized anxiety disorder, GAD), and ruminations (as seen in major depressive disorder, MDD).
Eligibility: We are inviting right-handed adult volunteers (ages 18-60) to participate who have difficulties with repetitive, intrusive thoughts that interfere with their daily life (e.g., unwanted thoughts that are difficult to control; worries or doubts about the future that won’t go away; ruminative thinking about negative things that have happened).
Length of the study: Total participation time for this study is approximately 5 months.
Visit type: Participation includes: (1) a virtual screening/baseline visit, including a diagnostic clinical interview, (2) three in-person visits, including (a) electroencephalogram (EEG) procedures – in which we will record your brain activity using a non-invasive technique while you complete a computer task (occurring at the Charlestown Navy Yard campus) – and (b) eye tracking procedures – in which you view a series of images and we measure where on the screen you are looking and the sweatiness of your palms (occurring at the Simches Research Building, main campus) (3) study treatment, including eight 60 min therapy sessions, which will be conducted virtually and (4) three virtual assessment visits, including clinician interviews and online self-report measures.
Treatment Conditions: Participants will be randomized (like the flip of a coin) to one of two treatment groups – Supportive Psychotherapy (SPT) or Attention Regulation Therapy (AR-ERT).
Payment: Participants will receive up to $200 for participating. Parking costs will also be reimbursed.
To register your interest, please fill out the following form: https://redcap.link/attentionregulationstudy_prescreen
For more information, please contact the study research coordinator Caroline Armstrong by email (attentionregulationstudy@partners.org) or by phone (617-726-5592).
Non-Treatment studies
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation potentiation of fear extinction in OCD: Towards rational design of combination therapies
PI: Joan A. Camprodon, M.D, M.P.H, Ph.D.
Purpose of the study: People with OCD struggle with recurrent, unwanted thoughts or images (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that create distress in their life and for their loved ones. People with OCD often have many fears and may go to extremes to avoid the things they fear. The purpose of this research study is to learn more about how human beings learn not to fear and the impact of changing the fear network in the brain using transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). In tDCS, electrodes are applied to the scalp. The electrodes are attached to a machine that sends electrical current through the brain resulting in a temporary change in brain activity. The tDCS procedure will not activate any of your brain cells causing them to “fire,” however the stimulation will adjust the likelihood of some brain cells “firing” on their own.
Eligibility: We are inviting adults ages 18-60 with OCD to participate in the research study. Those interested must be fluent in English, willing to attend the two in person visits at the MGH Charlestown Navy Yard campus, and must be comfortable and capable of using a computer and completing computerized tasks.
Length of the study: 3 study visits (2-3 hours virtual, 3.5 hours in person, 2 hours in person)
Visit type: Participation includes: (1) A virtual intake assessment visit consisting of a clinical interview (2-3 hours) and self-report questionnaires (30 minutes), (2) Two in-person visits over two consecutive days at the MGH Charlestown Navy Yard campus, including: (a) a fear learning computer task in which you view a series of pictures on the computer screen; after you see some of the pictures, you will receive a half-second electric shock that it is annoying but not painful, (b) before, during, or after the computer task on Day 1 you will be randomly assigned to receive either 20 minutes of active transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) — a noninvasive neuromodulation technique that stimulates the brain — or you will receive sham tDCS, and (c) during the computer task we will measure brain activity using an electroencephalogram (EEG) machine and skin conductance (i.e., sweatiness of your palms) using electrodes that fit comfortably on your fingers.
Payment: Participants will receive up to $300 for participating. Parking costs will also be reimbursed.
To register you interest, please fill out the following form:
https://redcap.link/ocdfearstudy_prescreen
For more information, please contact the study research coordinator Peyton Miyares by email (mghocdfearstudy@partners.org) or by phone (617-643-0850).
