RECRUITING

Mechanisms of Exposure Therapy for OCD

Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

Exposure therapy is the most effective treatment available for obsessive compulsive disorder, yet up to 50% of patients do not recover because the mechanisms underlying successful response are poorly understood, leading to significant variability in how clinicians conduct exposure therapy. The main purpose of this study is to determine which target mechanisms are most critical to engage in real-world exposure sessions to produce good treatment outcomes. Adult participants (N = 400) with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) receiving exposure therapy from two sites (McLean Hospital, San Diego State University) across the continuum of care (outpatient, partial hospital, residential) will complete baseline clinical and demographic measures as well as weekly symptom reports. The project will measure exposure mechanisms across three levels of analysis (self-report, observer-rated behavior, physiology) during each exposure session. Mechanisms assessed will include a broad range of variables based on both habituation and inhibitory learning models of exposure. Self-report and observer-rated mechanisms will be measured with the Exposure Feedback Form, created and piloted by the study team. Physiological mechanisms will include skin conductance response, heart rate, and heart rate variability measured with a wristwatch. The current study will determine (1) which exposure mechanisms lead to favorable clinical outcomes, and (2) what makes a good exposure for whom. Results of this study have the potential to improve personalized care for the many patients who do not remit following exposure therapy for OCD.

Official Title

Leveraging Machine Learning Approaches to Understand Mechanisms of Exposure Therapy in Real-World Settings

Quick Facts

Study Start:2024-10-16
Study Completion:2029-04
Study Type:Not specified
Phase:Not Applicable
Enrollment:Not specified
Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT06173752

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Ages Eligible for Study:18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:No
Standard Ages:ADULT, OLDER_ADULT
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
  1. * Between the ages of 18-65 years old
  2. * Seeking exposure treatment at McLean Hospital OCD Institute or San Diego State University
  3. * Have a diagnosis of OCD
  4. * Able to complete study measures and treatment procedures in English
  1. * Acute symptoms of psychosis
  2. * Active suicidality (plan, means, intent and/or suicide attempt in past 3 months)
  3. * Presence of co-occurring symptoms that warrant higher level of care (e.g., inpatient treatment)
  4. * Presence of any medical, psychiatric, or developmental condition that would prevent patients from completing assessments or exposure exercises (e.g., non-verbal autism spectrum disorder)

Contacts and Locations

Study Contact

Jennie M Kuckertz, PhD
CONTACT
617-855-2962
jkuckertz@mclean.harvard.edu

Principal Investigator

Jennie M Kuckertz, PhD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Mclean Hospital

Study Locations (Sites)

Center for Understanding and Treating Anxiety
San Diego, California, 92120
United States
McLean OCDI
Belmont, Massachusetts, 02478
United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: Mclean Hospital

  • Jennie M Kuckertz, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Mclean Hospital

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2024-10-16
Study Completion Date2029-04

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2024-10-16
Study Completion Date2029-04

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder