Different brain and behavior patterns in OCD and depression
Behavioral and Neural Heterogeneity in OCD and Depression
This project looks at how brain activity and specific behavior patterns differ among people with obsessive-compulsive disorder and major depression to find clearer subtypes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11121038 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are comparing 75 people with OCD and 75 people with major depressive disorder using brain scans and behavior tests. You would complete task-based and resting-state fMRI sessions and answer questions about symptoms like body awareness (interoception) and repetitive negative thinking. The team uses both hypothesis-driven and data-driven methods under the RDoC framework to link symptoms, behavior, and brain circuits. The goal is to find consistent patterns that cut across diagnoses and explain why some people respond differently to treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder or major depressive disorder who can undergo MRI scanning and complete behavioral tasks are the ideal participants.
Not a fit: People without OCD or depression, or those who cannot safely have an MRI (for example due to metal implants or severe claustrophobia), are unlikely to be included or directly benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help guide more personalized treatment choices by identifying biologically meaningful subtypes of OCD and depression.
How similar studies have performed: Previous brain-imaging and transdiagnostic research has shown promise for identifying meaningful subgroups, but combining interoceptive sensitivity and repetitive negative thinking across OCD and depression is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stern, Emily R — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Stern, Emily R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.