Exploring how brain stimulation affects decision-making in patients with OCD, depression, and epilepsy
ON/OFF Stimulation and Reward Motivation in Patients With Deep Brain Stimulators
This study is testing how brain stimulation affects decision-making in people with OCD, depression, and epilepsy by seeing how they respond to rewards and challenges while their devices are on and off.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Massachusetts General Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Boston, Massachusetts and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT01590862 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the approach and avoidance behaviors in patients with deep brain stimulators (DBS) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), as well as in epilepsy patients undergoing seizure monitoring. Participants will engage in a modified Approach-Avoidance task while their DBS devices are turned on and off to assess the impact of electrical stimulation on decision-making related to rewards and aversive stimuli. The study will involve questionnaires and EEG recordings to gather comprehensive data on the participants' responses. The research aims to enhance understanding of how DBS influences motivation and behavior in these patient populations.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include right-handed adults with a current diagnosis of OCD or MDD who have had a DBS implantation for at least three months.
Not a fit: Patients with a history of bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, or significant cognitive impairments may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for managing OCD and MDD through optimized DBS programming.
How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on DBS and its effects on mood disorders, this specific approach to measuring decision-making in relation to reward and aversion is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
DBS Patients: Inclusion Criteria: • Deep brain stimulator implantation performed at least three months prior to study Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects unable to visualize stimulus objects with correction * Dementia or other known cognitive deficit Psychiatric Patients: Inclusion Criteria: * Right-handed (as determined by the Handedness Inventory; Oldfield,1971) * Normal or corrected-to normal vision and hearing * Current diagnosis of MDD or OCD Exclusion Criteria for Patients: * Clinical history of bipolar disorder * Current or past psychotic disorder * Gross structural brain damage * Cognitive impairment that would affect a participant's ability to give informed consent * Current substance abuse, or abuse within the past 3 months * Clinical history of severe personality disorder * Imminent risk of suicide or an inability to control suicide attempts * Evidence of dementia or other significant cognitive impairment on neuropsychological evaluation
Where this trial is running
Boston, Massachusetts and 1 other locations
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Darin Dougherty, MD — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Darin Dougherty, MD
- Email: ddougherty@mgb.org
- Phone: 6178180730
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.