Effect of Photobiomodulation in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Evaluation of the effect of Photobiomodulation on the expression of BDNF and TrkB proteins and executive functions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder patients

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

IRCT

Registry ID

IRCT20241208063985N1

Enrollment

Registered

2025-06-15

Start date

2025-06-30

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-12-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Interventions

Intervention 1: Intervention group: Intervention Group: Patients receive photobiomodulation using the Fotino device

12 sessions, twice weekly, 15 minutes per session, wavelength 810 nm, each probe power 50 mW, total power 400 mW, energy density per probe 34 J/cm², total energy density 272 J/cm², continuous mode, at

12 sessions, twice weekly, 15 minutes per session, at 8 points in prefrontal, frontal, and parietal scalp regions, covering both brain hemispheres. The device is active but emits no light, producing n

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 60 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder who refer to the clinic based on the diagnosis of the center's psychiatrist and according to DSM-5 criteria Obtaining the score of 16 or higher on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Scale (Y-BOCS) No use of psychiatric medications in the past 6 months

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in the past 6 months History of seizures History of epilepsy Pregnancy Breastfeeding History of stroke History of traumatic brain injury

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); measured by ELISA in plasma samples of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients before and after photobiomodulation (PBM) intervention. Timepoint: Serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor is measured at baseline, before starting photobiomodulation, and at the end of week six, after completing 12 intervention sessions. Method of measurement: Serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor is measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in plasma samples of patients.;Serum level of tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB); measured by ELISA in plasma samples of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients before and after photobiomodulation (PBM) intervention. Timepoint: Serum level of tyrosine kinase receptor B is measured at baseline, before starting photobiomodulation, and at the end of week six, after completing 12 intervention sessions. Method of measurement: Serum level of tyrosine kinase receptor B is measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in plasma samples of patients.	—

Measure

Time frame

Serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); measured by ELISA in plasma samples of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients before and after photobiomodulation (PBM) intervention. Timepoint: Serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor is measured at baseline, before starting photobiomodulation, and at the end of week six, after completing 12 intervention sessions. Method of measurement: Serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor is measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in plasma samples of patients.;Serum level of tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB); measured by ELISA in plasma samples of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients before and after photobiomodulation (PBM) intervention. Timepoint: Serum level of tyrosine kinase receptor B is measured at baseline, before starting photobiomodulation, and at the end of week six, after completing 12 intervention sessions. Method of measurement: Serum level of tyrosine kinase receptor B is measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in plasma samples of patients.

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder is measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after photobiomodulation intervention. Timepoint: Severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder is measured at baseline, before starting photobiomodulation, and at the end of week six, after completing 12 intervention sessions. Method of measurement: Severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder is measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale in patients.;Inhibition is measured using the Go-No-Go test in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after photobiomodulation intervention. Timepoint: Inhibition is measured at baseline, before starting photobiomodulation, and at the end of week six, after completing 12 intervention sessions. Method of measurement: Inhibition is measured using the Go-No-Go test in patients.;Decision-making is measured using the Iowa Gambling Task in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after photobiomodulation intervention. Timepoint: Decision-making is measured at baseline, before starting photobiomodulation, and at the end of week six, after completing 12 intervention sessions. Method of measurement: Decision-making is measured using the Iowa Gambling Task in patients.;Working memory is measured using the N-Back test in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after photobiomodulation intervention. Timepoint: Working memory is measured at baseline, before starting photobiomodulation, and at the end of week six, after completing 12 intervention sessions. Method of measurement: Working memory is measured using the N-Back test in patients.	—

Measure

Time frame

Severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder is measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after photobiomodulation intervention. Timepoint: Severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder is measured at baseline, before starting photobiomodulation, and at the end of week six, after completing 12 intervention sessions. Method of measurement: Severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder is measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale in patients.;Inhibition is measured using the Go-No-Go test in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after photobiomodulation intervention. Timepoint: Inhibition is measured at baseline, before starting photobiomodulation, and at the end of week six, after completing 12 intervention sessions. Method of measurement: Inhibition is measured using the Go-No-Go test in patients.;Decision-making is measured using the Iowa Gambling Task in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after photobiomodulation intervention. Timepoint: Decision-making is measured at baseline, before starting photobiomodulation, and at the end of week six, after completing 12 intervention sessions. Method of measurement: Decision-making is measured using the Iowa Gambling Task in patients.;Working memory is measured using the N-Back test in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after photobiomodulation intervention. Timepoint: Working memory is measured at baseline, before starting photobiomodulation, and at the end of week six, after completing 12 intervention sessions. Method of measurement: Working memory is measured using the N-Back test in patients.

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Countries

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Contacts

Public ContactPayam Momeni

Institute for Cognitive Sciences Studies

payamomeni@yahoo.com+98 21 2615 8813

Outcome results

None listed

Source: IRCT (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026