Accelerated rTMS for hospitalized patients with OCD
Official title: Accelerated Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Hospitalized Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a Feasibility and Mechanistic RCT
Run by University Hospital, Ghent · NCT07135414 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will test whether adding accelerated rTMS (dTMS or iTBS) to inpatient ERP helps adults hospitalized with moderate-to-severe OCD.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Ghent Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 25, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2029 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | August 22, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07135414 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18–65 hospitalized for OCD with moderate-to-severe symptoms (Y-BOCS ≥ 20) who can participate in inpatient ERP are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with current suicidal ideation, active psychotic disorders, active substance use disorder, or implanted DBS devices are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized, three-arm inpatient study compares two accelerated rTMS approaches (deep TMS and intermittent theta burst stimulation) plus Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) against ERP alone. rTMS arms use an accelerated protocol with multiple sessions per day over a two-week inpatient stay, and all participants complete standardized questionnaires and neural measures. The trial focuses on feasibility, tolerability, clinical symptom change, and neural mechanisms underlying response. Participants are randomized by computer and treated at a single academic medical center.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could speed up symptom relief and increase response rates by combining intensive ERP with accelerated rTMS.
How similar studies have gone: Prior trials have shown dTMS can be effective for OCD and accelerated or iTBS protocols have promising but more limited evidence, while combining these with intensive inpatient ERP is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 65 * Hospitalization for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) * Participation in Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy * Significant OCD, as measured by a Y-BOCS score of 20 or higher (moderate to severe OCD symptoms) Exclusion Criteria: * Acute suicidality: Individuals presenting with current suicidal ideation or behavior are excluded to ensure participant safety. * Psychotic disorder: patients with active psychotic disorders are excluded due to the complexity of their condition and potential interactions with the study protocol. * Current substance use disorder: active substance use disorders are exclusionary to prevent confounding effects on study outcomes. * Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for OCD: participants with an implanted DBS device for OCD are excluded due to potential interference with the study's interventions and safety concerns.
Where it's running
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UZ Gent
Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Chris Baeken, PhD. MD. Psychiatry — Uz Gent
- Study coordinator: Stefanie De Smet, PhD
- Email: stefanie.desmet@ugent.be
- Phone: 00329 332 43 94
Similar studies
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This trial tests ATTN201, a wearable ultrasound headband, to see if it helps adults with OCD compared to a sham treatment.
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.