Personalized deep brain stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder

A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Crossover Trial of Stereoencephalography- Guided Four-Lead Personalized Deep Brain Stimulation for Treatment-Refractory Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (SEEG-Guided DBS for OCD)

This study is testing if a personalized brain stimulation treatment can help people with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder who haven't found relief from other therapies.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 10 (estimated)
• Ages: 22 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (San Francisco, California)
• Trial ID: NCT06347978 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial involves a double-blinded, randomized, crossover design to evaluate the effectiveness of stereoencephalography (SEEG)-guided deep brain stimulation (DBS) for patients with treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The study is conducted in three stages: first, SEEG brain mapping to identify optimal stimulation sites; second, implantation of DBS leads based on the mapping results; and third, a randomized crossover treatment phase to assess safety and efficacy. Participants will receive personalized stimulation parameters aimed at alleviating their OCD symptoms.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 22 to 75 with chronic, severe OCD that has not adequately responded to previous treatments.

Not a fit: Patients with OCD symptoms attributable to other medical conditions or those who have not experienced severe symptoms may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide significant symptom relief for patients suffering from severe OCD who have not responded to conventional treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise with deep brain stimulation for OCD, suggesting that this approach may be effective, although the specific SEEG-guided methodology is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. ≥ 22 years and ≤ 75 years of age, at the time of screening
2. Chronic (\> 5 years preceding the date of enrollment) OCD, diagnosed as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition guidelines (DSM-5)

   1. Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both
   2. Time-consuming obsessions and compulsions that take more than one hour a day or cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
   3. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms that are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g. a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition
   4. Disturbance not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder listed in the DSM-5
3. Severe OCD symptoms, as defined by Y-BOCS I score of ≥ 28, within two weeks prior to enrollment
4. Lack of adequate response to a history of all the following treatments, based on information from any of the following: (a) the current treating physician and/or psychologist; (b) medical records or other forms of communication from previous healthcare providers; and (c) pharmacy records, as determined by the Principal Investigator (PI). Patients may continue to be receiving these following treatments while still enrolled in the study.

   1. Adequate trial of ≥ 2 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for an adequate duration at the maximum dose recommended for OCD or at the maximally-tolerated dose according to the FDA-approved package labeling
   2. Adequate trial of ≥ 1 augmentation trial using an antipsychotic medication
   3. Adequate trial of clomipramine, either as monotherapy or as an augmentation therapy, unless medically contradicted
   4. Adequate trials of cognitive behavior therapy-based Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
   5. Has not responded adequately to TMS treatment for OCD if it is reasonably available to the patient
5. Willingness and ability to remain on the same daily dose of any and all scheduled psychotropic medication(s) for at least 8 weeks prior to study enrollment and for the duration of the trial, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator
6. Study participation in the prospective subject's best psychiatric interest, as determined by the research/study psychiatrist and based on a comprehensive assessment that includes the following: (a) detailed psychiatric history; (b) examination of the mental status; (c) review of psychiatric assessment measures obtained to determine eligibility, as applicable; (d) review of previous medical records for a minimum of 2 years prior to enrollment, or as applicable; and (e) consideration of the potential benefits versus risks of study participation
7. Agreement to being evaluated by a licensed psychiatrist and/or psychologist at regular intervals of every 3 months for the duration of study participation
8. Adequate social support, including but not limited to, stable housing and two family members and/or friends, who are identified as a verifiable emergency contacts
9. Willingness and ability to provide at least two verifiable contacts for emergency purposes and to permit verification of emergency contacts by research staff before all study visits and as needed, at the discretion of the Principal Investigator
10. Ability to understand procedure-related instructions and to complete study assessments in English, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator
11. Willingness and ability to comply with protocol requirements (e.g. procedure visits, treatment schedule, follow-up visit schedule, evaluations, etc.), in the opinion of the Principal Investigator
12. Willingness and ability to provide written agreement to allow any and all forms of communication between the research team and treating clinician(s)
13. Willingness and ability to provide informed consent, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosed, according to the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), as suffering from any other primary psychiatric diagnosis defined in the DSM-5, including Hoarding Disorder
2. In the opinion of the Principal Investigator and relative to the date of enrollment, (a) current or past diagnosis of, or medical history/records suggestive of, a DSM-5 defined Personality Disorder, considered to be severe; or (b) history of hospitalization because of Borderline Personality Disorder
3. Present clinical secondary diagnosis of any of the following, as defined in the DSM-5 and based on the MINI and the psychiatric evaluation:

   1. Bipolar I Disorder or Bipolar II Disorder
   2. Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or Binge Eating Disorder
   3. Psychotic Disorder or Mood Disorder with psychotic features
4. Current suicidal risk, as determined by the research/study psychiatrist using the brief mental status exam and the psychiatric interview (including the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale \[C-SSRS\]), or significant suicide risk, defined as Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-21) Item 3 score of ≥ 3 or any lifetime history of suicide attempt

   a. Subjects who answer 'Yes' to questions 3, 4, or 5 of the C-SSRS will be excluded and brought by study staff to the nearest emergency room for additional evaluation and psychiatric care.
5. Treatment, within 24 months of screening, for any of the following: dependency on, addiction to, use of, abuse of, or overuse of any illicit substance(s), including alcohol, but not including nicotine or caffeine
6. History of head trauma associated with any of the following:

   1. Loss of consciousness for \> 5 minutes
   2. A residual effect(s) that failed to resolve completely at least 1 year prior to the date of screening
   3. An abnormality on a neuroimaging study (MRI, CT Scan) that was/is attributable to the head trauma
   4. \> 1 head injury within the past 2 years which were diagnosed as a concussion, concussive-type or traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to medical records or as reported by the prospective subject or a family member
7. Any of the following permanent implants:

   1. Cardiac implant (e.g. pacemaker or any intracardiac lines, implanted neurostimulators, shunts)
   2. Brain implant (e.g. intracranial implant, aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes)
   3. Implanted medical pumps
8. Diathermy treatments requirement for any reason
9. Hearing loss that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, an audiologist, or a treating physician, is likely to affect the subject's ability to comply with all of the requirements of the study or may affect the integrity of the study data
10. Any metal or metallic particles anywhere in the head, except in the inside of the mouth
11. Pregnancy, at the time of screening or during the course of the study (i.e. 3 years)

    a. Acceptable methods of contraception include the following: i. Established use of oral, injected or implanted contraceptives ii. Placement of an intrauterine device (IUD) or an intrauterine system (IUS) iii. Female sterilization (e.g. surgical bilateral oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy, total hysterectomy, tubal ligation) iv. Male sterilization, with the appropriate post-vasectomy documentation of the absence of sperm in the ejaculate v. True abstinence, when in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject b. Barrier methods of contraception, such as a condom, a diaphragm, or cervical/vault caps with spermicidal foam/gel/film/cream/suppository, and rhythm methods of contraception, although encouraged, alone are not considered acceptable forms or contraception.
12. History of uncontrolled or untreated physical, systemic, or metabolic disorders

    a. Uncontrolled hypertension, defined as systolic \> 185 mm Hg and/or diastolic \> 110 mmHg and demonstrated on each of three repeated measurements taken within one hour, regardless of whether the patient is taking antihypertensive medications
13. History of involuntary movements, which may impact the quality of a neuroimaging study significantly, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator or a neuro-radiologist
14. History of excessive or prolonged bleeding and/or any of the following:

    1. INR of \> 1.8
    2. Prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of ≥ 45 sec
    3. Platelet count of \< 100×100/L
15. Allergy to gadolinium
16. Inability to safely and successfully undergo an MRI or a CT Scan
17. Any past or present medical condition, disease, disorder, or injury that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, may reduce or hinder the subject's ability to fully comply with all study requirements for the duration of the study or may impact, compromise, or affect the integrity of the data or the results of the study
18. Current participation in other research that may potentially interfere with DBS study objectives or with the ability to follow the timeline of this study, as determined by the Principal Investigator

Where this trial is running

San Francisco, California

• University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, California, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: A Moses Lee, MD, PhD — University of California, San Francisco
• Study coordinator: Tenzin Norbu, BS

Conditions Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; OCD