Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Conditions
Brief summary
In a preliminary pilot study, the investigators tested the efficacy of rTMS over the medial prefrontal cortex in symptom profiles of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. This study revealed considerable benefit in using rTMS for the treatment of OCD. In the current proposal, in a randomized clinical trial, the investigators aim to further evaluate the efficacy of rTMS in OCD in a larger sample size and for a longer period. Studies into the efficacy of rTMS in other psychiatric disorders such as depression have consistently shown that extension of the treatment to four weeks significantly increased the effect size. In the pilot study, the investigators applied rTMS for only two weeks. Although all patients consistently showed improvement in their symptoms, none of them showed complete remission of their OCD. Here, the investigators hypothesize that longer duration of rTMS treatment will have greater benefit in OCD symptom reduction.
Detailed description
The purpose of study is to examine the efficacy of rTMS over the medial prefrontal cortex in the treatment of OCD. rTMS will be provided to OCD patients in a randomized double blind controlled setting, and the investigators hypothesize that in this setting the treatment group would still show significant improvement in OCD symptoms as compared to the sham group. rTMS will be applied for four weeks on OCD patients and the investigators will assess improvement after four weeks of rTMS. The investigators hypothesize that patients will show significantly greater improvement after four weeks of rTMS vs. two weeks of rTMS.
Interventions
DEVICETranscranial Magnetic Stimulation
A non-invasive method for brain stimulation
DEVICESham Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Sham stimulation of the brain.
Sponsors
Manitoba Medical Service Foundation
University of Manitoba
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Diagnosed obsessive compulsive disorder * Not currently receiving cognitive behavioural therapy * Not currently on any medication or only taking one selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Exclusion criteria
* History of psychotic episodes * History of neurological illness * Previous head injury * Active alcohol or substance abuse * History of seizure disorders * Currently pregnant
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in obsessive and compulsive symptom severity (Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale) | Recordings: baseline; after two weeks of rTMS; after four weeks of rTMS; monthly for three months following the last session of rTMS |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed