Exposure and Response Prevention for Veterans with OCD (via video), to help daily functioning
Official title: Exposure and Response Prevention to Improve Functioning in Veterans with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Funded at Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center · NIH-11534223 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Veterans-focused program tests video-delivered ERP therapy to help people with OCD and sometimes PTSD feel more able to work and enjoy daily life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003677-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11534223 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who are Veterans with OCD, and about half of them with comorbid PTSD, who can participate in video-delivered therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans who cannot participate in video sessions or do not have access to compatible devices may receive less benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to bring evidence-based ERP therapy to Veterans who have OCD, including those with co-occurring PTSD, using video telehealth to improve access. Over four years and across multiple sites, 160 Veterans will be enrolled and randomly assigned to video-delivered ERP or a stress-management control to compare outcomes. The study focuses on real-world functioning, daily life quality, and symptom relief, with the goal of showing that online ERP can reach Veterans who face barriers like travel, childcare, and work schedules. If successful, the approach could help more Veterans access proven OCD treatment from home.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Veterans with OCD (and possible PTSD) may experience reduced symptoms and improved daily functioning through accessible, home-based therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous ERP work supports its effectiveness, but this is a novel application in Veterans with comorbidity and via telehealth.
Where this research is happening
-
Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fletcher, Terri Lynn — Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Fletcher, Terri Lynn
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding and improving fear and safety learning in OCD
A study at Yale will test brain-based methods to help adults with OCD improve safety learning and fear extinction during therapy.
-
Understanding OCD: how people control distressing thoughts and urges
A research team is exploring how the brain and behavior work together in OCD to reduce distress and urge-driven actions.
-
Neural training to improve stopping impulses in OCD and related conditions
A new computer-based training helps people with OCD, trichotillomania, or skin picking disorders improve their ability to stop automatic urges.
-
How genes affect obsessive-compulsive disorder in people of Latin American ancestry
This project looks at how genetic differences influence OCD risk in people with Latin American ancestry.
-
Pinpointing brain areas and cell types linked to OCD, Tourette, and anorexia with genetics
A short, patient-friendly project that looks at how genes are connected to OCD, Tourette syndrome, and anorexia nervosa to understand which brain regions and cells are involved.
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Connectomic Deep Brain Stimulation for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
This project studies how targeting brain networks with DBS could improve symptoms for people with OCD who don’t respond to standard treatments.
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.