Locating Biomarkers in OCD Through Behavioral Tasks

NCT03313622 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: H42237
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 3

Brief Summary

Subjects that have a diagnosis of OCD will participate in a clinical interview and cognitive tasks, during which they will be exposed to their individual OC stressors or will be asked to make decisions related to information value and quantity while measuring neural activity and filming facial reactions. This will assist investigators to look for biomarkers of that change. This study offers a unique opportunity to develop biomarkers for key domains of OCD, and other neuropsychiatric disorders, that are grounded in brain neurocircuitry at the individual-patient level. Subjects will participate in a clinical interview (Day 1), and then tasks+EEG (Day 2). Day 1 will be 4 hours or less, and Day 2 will be 2.5 hours or less.

Conditions

OCD; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Keywords

OCD; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (7)

• Investigate for biomarkers of obsessive compulsive disorder pathophysiology through the use of behavioral tasks - Beads task

  Subject will perform beads task while EEG and videotape monitors neural and facial data throughout

  Day 2

• Investigate for biomarkers of obsessive compulsive disorder pathophysiology through the use of behavioral tasks - PROVOC Task 1

  Subject will undergo PROVOC Task 1 with Item 1 of 3 that may invoke OCD triggers while EEG and videotape monitors neural and facial data throughout

  Day 2

• Investigate for biomarkers of obsessive compulsive disorder pathophysiology through the use of behavioral tasks - PROVOC Task 2

  Subject will undergo PROVOC Task 2 with Item 2 of 3 that may invoke OCD triggers while EEG and videotape monitors neural and facial data throughout

  Day 2

• Investigate for biomarkers of obsessive compulsive disorder pathophysiology through the use of behavioral tasks - PROVOC Task 3

  Subject will undergo PROVOC Task 3 with Item 3 of 3 that may invoke OCD triggers while EEG and videotape monitors neural and facial data throughout

  Day 2

• Investigate for biomarkers of obsessive compulsive disorder pathophysiology through the use of behavioral tasks - Non-PROVOC Task 1

  Subject will undergo the same exposure task with Item 1 of 3 that does not invoke OCD triggers while EEG and videotape monitors neural and facial data throughout

  Day 2

• Investigate for biomarkers of obsessive compulsive disorder pathophysiology through the use of behavioral tasks - Non-PROVOC Task 2

  Subject will undergo the same exposure task with Item 2 of 3 that does not invoke OCD triggers while EEG and videotape monitors neural and facial data throughout

  Day 2

• Investigate for biomarkers of obsessive compulsive disorder pathophysiology through the use of behavioral tasks - Non-PROVOC Task 3

  Subject will undergo the same exposure task with Item 3 of 3 that does not invoke OCD triggers while EEG and videotape monitors neural and facial data throughout

  Day 2

Study Arms (1)

OCD group

Day 1: Questionnaires/Assessments Day 2: Tasks

Behavioral: Beads Task; Behavioral: PROVOC Tasks

Interventions

Beads Task BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be asked to make a series of decisions that involve combining information about the value and probability of potential rewards. Subjects will sit in front of a computer monitor and place their hand over a box with orange and blue button that they will be asked to press based on their idea of which one will be the majority in a jar full of orange and blue beads. This task should take 15-20 minutes to complete, not including EEG setup.

OCD group

PROVOC Tasks BEHAVIORAL

Three tasks will be developed collaboratively with the participant and independent evaluator that involve the participant being exposed to triggers that are considered by him/her impossible to confront without ritualizing. There will also be a similar process involving objects that should not cause any distress to be used as a control. Sessions will be videotaped with AFAR system concurrent to recording of LFPs from VS and scalp EEG.

OCD group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Potential subjects are patients diagnosed with OCD meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria above.

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of OCD
• Non-pregnant if female
• Minimum score of 16 on Y-BOCS
• Ability to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Lifetime diagnosis of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia
• Alcohol or substance abuse/dependence within 6 months, excluding nicotine
• Deemed at high risk of suicidal behavior or impulsivity
• Pregnant or plans to become pregnant in the next 24 months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Baylor College of Medicine: lead
• Brown University: collaborator
• University of Pittsburgh: collaborator
• Butler Hospital: collaborator

Study Sites (3)

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15260, United States

Location

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, United States

Location

Baylor College of Medicine

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Wayne Goodman, MD

  Baylor College of Medicine

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Clarissa Aguilar

CONTACT

713-798-3080; Clarissa.Aguilar@bcm.edu

Gregory Vogt

CONTACT

713-798-4729; gsvogt@bcm.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 13, 2017
• First Posted: October 18, 2017
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2026
• Study Completion: March 1, 2026
• Last Updated: July 20, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Locations

US (3)