The Pediatric Psychiatry OCD and Tic Disorders Program at Massachusetts General Hospital is currently recruiting children with OCD for a research study. The purpose of this study is to test the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on neurocognitive functioning in children with OCD. tDCS is a non-invasive and painless form of brain stimulation which involves a weak current applied to the scalp. We aim to discover new non-medication treatment approaches for children with OCD.
tDCS has been studied in children with a variety of conditions including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and ADHD. tDCS is a safe procedure for children; in a meta-analysis of 48 studies involving over 500 children, the main adverse events were mild and temporary, including tingling (11.5%), itching (5.8%), redness (4.7%), and scalp discomfort (3.1%). To make this experience as comfortable as possible for our participants, we offer a numbing cream that can be used during the stimulation.
Children aged 10-17 years who currently have OCD or have had OCD in the past are eligible to participate. Children who have comorbid conduct disorder, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia are not eligible to participate.
Please note that this is an investigational study, not a treatment study. This means that while we are not expecting benefits to you directly, we plan to use what we learn to inform future treatments. Participants will attend four study visits: (1) a virtual screening/baseline visit (2 hours) including a diagnostic clinical interview, (2) three in-person visits (3 hours each) at the Charlestown Navy Yard campus including (a) 30 minutes of tDCS stimulation and (b) computer games meant to measure neurocognitive functioning. The study will take about 2-3 weeks to complete depending on your scheduling preferences.
Participants will receive $300 for completing the study. Parking will be provided.
To register your interest, please complete the following brief form: https://rally.massgeneralbrigham.org/study/tdcs
For more information, please contact the study research coordinator McKenzie Schuyler by email (mschuyler@mgh.harvard.edu) or by phone (617-726-5527).
