How brain connections relate to persistent avoidance in OCD
Linking persistent avoidance with abnormalities in the OCD neural network
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · NIH-11266123
This project compares brain wiring and activity in young adults with OCD who struggle with persistent avoidance to people without OCD.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11266123 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would come to the University of Rochester for brain scans and behavioral testing. The team will use advanced diffusion MRI to map white matter tracts and fMRI while you do a task that involves uncertain or potentially unpleasant outcomes. They will compare 50 people with OCD (some unmedicated, some taking SSRIs or clomipramine) to 50 healthy volunteers aged 18–35. The goal is to link differences in connections among brain hubs like the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, insula, orbitofrontal cortex, and striatum to persistent avoidance behavior.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 18–35 with a diagnosis of OCD who experience persistent avoidance and who are either unmedicated or taking SSRIs or clomipramine would be the intended participants.
Not a fit: People under 18 or over 35, those without OCD, or those with major unrelated medical/psychiatric conditions are unlikely to be eligible or to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify the brain circuit problems that drive avoidance in OCD and point to more targeted therapies or personalized treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous imaging studies have linked OCD to abnormal brain circuits and diffusion/fMRI methods are well established, but combining tractometry with task-based connectivity to pinpoint avoidance mechanisms is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER — ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: PHILLIPS, MARY LOUISE — UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- Study coordinator: PHILLIPS, MARY LOUISE
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.