Understanding how real-world exposure therapy helps OCD patients with ML insights
Official title: Leveraging Machine Learning Approaches to Understand Mechanisms of Exposure Therapy in Real-World Settings
Funded at San Diego State University · NIH-11531594 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study at two sites will use machine learning to uncover which brain and behavior changes during exposure therapy best predict improvement for adults with OCD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $802,080 |
| NIH project number | 7R01MH135899-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11531594 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with OCD who are undergoing exposure therapy at participating sites and are willing to provide data across sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing OCD or not undergoing exposure therapy at the study sites may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows adults with OCD who are receiving exposure therapy at two treatment sites. It will collect baseline data and weekly symptom reports, while recording self-reports, clinician observations, and physiological signals during exposure sessions. By applying machine learning to these real-world sessions, the study aims to reveal which mechanisms most strongly drive treatment response for different individuals. The goal is to tailor exposure approaches to individual patients to improve recovery rates. The study involves 400 participants across outpatient, partial hospital, and residential care settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide personalized exposure strategies that increase OCD recovery rates in real-world clinics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown mixed results; this study is novel in integrating self-report, observer, and physiological data in real-world settings.
Where this research is happening
-
San Diego State University
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuckertz, Jennie M — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Kuckertz, Jennie M
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.