Understanding how hormones affect OCD treatment for better results
2/2 Harnessing Hormonal Variation to Probe Neural Mechanisms and Optimize CBT Outcomes for OCD
This research explores how natural hormone changes in women, and differences between men and women, might influence the success of a common therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143279 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that a therapy called Exposure and Ritual Prevention (EX/RP) helps many people with OCD, but it's not always clear why it works or why some women respond differently. This project aims to understand if natural hormone levels, like estrogen, affect how the brain responds to EX/RP therapy. We will look at brain activity before and after treatment in both women and men with OCD to see if hormone levels or sex differences play a role in how well the therapy works. Our goal is to find ways to make EX/RP more effective for everyone.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Not a fit: Patients without OCD or those outside the specified age range would not be suitable for direct participation in this particular research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to personalized treatment plans for OCD, potentially improving EX/RP outcomes, especially for women.
How similar studies have performed: While studies in animals and healthy humans suggest hormones affect brain regions involved in fear, this specific approach to link hormonal variation to EX/RP outcomes in OCD patients is novel.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Lily a — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Brown, Lily a
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.