Understanding and improving fear responses in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder
Official title: Characterization and Modulation of Functional Connectivity and Fear Extinction Abnormalities in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-10944269 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can learn to feel safer and how their brains might work differently, using a special technique to boost brain activity during therapy, all to find better ways to help those with OCD feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $721,862 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH137471-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10944269 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have obsessive-compulsive disorder or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) learn to feel safe and how their brain connections may be different from those without OCD. The study will use a technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to enhance brain activity in specific areas while patients undergo therapy. By examining these brain functions and their relationship to fear responses, the research aims to identify new ways to improve treatment outcomes for OCD patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective therapies for individuals with OCD, helping them manage their symptoms better.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary research has shown promise in using similar brain stimulation techniques to enhance safety learning in OCD patients, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adams, Thomas G — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Adams, Thomas G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A study at Yale will test brain-based methods to help adults with OCD improve safety learning and fear extinction during therapy.
-
Improving safety learning and brain connectivity in adults with OCD
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Inflammation and fear learning in PTSD
This study looks at how a temporary inflammatory challenge affects fear extinction in people with and without PTSD to better understand how PTSD could be treated.
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.