Safety and feasibility of a next-generation dome helmet for neuromodulation in OCD
Official title: Assessment of Safety and Feasibility of FUS Next Generation Dome Helmet (NGDH) to Perform Neuromodulation in Patients With Treatment Refractory Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Run by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre · NCT07704632 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether a new focused ultrasound helmet can safely help people with treatment-refractory OCD see if their symptoms improve.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Toronto, Ontario) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 23, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 2027 |
| Study ends | September 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 15, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07704632 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18–85 with DSM-5 OCD, a Y-BOCS total score >22, stable psychiatric medications for at least 30 days, and prior exposure to at least two antidepressants and CBT/psychotherapy.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who do not experience symptom reduction or who experience intolerable adverse events may not receive benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a prospective, single-arm study evaluating the safety and tolerability of transcranial focused ultrasound delivered with the Next Generation Dome Helmet (NGDH) in adults with OCD that has not responded to standard treatments. Participants receive two treatment sessions four weeks apart, with stimulation targeting key nodes of the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit. Outcomes include adverse events, OCD symptom severity, and quality of life to explore preliminary efficacy and feasibility. The study enrolls up to 20 participants at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could offer a noninvasive option for reducing OCD symptoms in people who have not benefited from existing therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior focused ultrasound neuromodulation approaches have shown safety signals in related brain-targeted therapies, but this specific NGDH approach in OCD is exploratory.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Must be deemed to have the capacity to provide informed consent. 2. Age 18 to 85 years. 3. Diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder according to DSM-5 criteria. 4. Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale total score greater than 22. 5. If taking psychiatric medications, must be on a stable regimen for at least 30 days before enrollment. Psychiatric medications will be continued throughout the study. 6. Previous trial of at least two first-line antidepressant agents at an adequate dose and duration, as assessed by two psychiatrists. 7. Previous trial of cognitive behavioural therapy or psychotherapy for OCD for at least 6 weeks. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnant or intending to become pregnant during the study. 2. Substance use disorder, other than cannabis or nicotine use disorder, of moderate severity or greater, or where the substance is the primary substance of concern, according to DSM-5 criteria. 3. Known active seizure disorder or significant head injury with an imaging-confirmed lesion. 4. Unstable medical illness. 5. Not eligible for 3-Tesla MRI, such as due to an MRI-incompatible pacemaker or other implanted device. 6. Unable to reliably attend the required screening, treatment, and follow-up visits. 7. Severe claustrophobia that would prevent MRI scanning. 8. History of a bleeding disorder or coagulopathy. 9. Anticoagulant therapy or use of medications known to increase the risk of hemorrhage within the required washout period before treatment, including: * Antiplatelet agents or vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants within 7 days of treatment * Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants within 72 hours of treatment * Heparin-derived compounds within 48 hours of treatment
Where it's running
-
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Nir Lipsman, MD, PHD, FRCSC, FAANS
- Email: Nir.Lipsman@sunnybrook.ca
- Phone: (416)-480-6954
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Emotion-Focused ACT for OCD in Group Therapy
In adults with OCD, researchers will test whether Emotion-Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) delivered in a group setting helps reduce OCD symptoms compared with a supportive group.
-
Accelerated personalized rTMS for treatment‑resistant obsessive‑compulsive disorder
This study will try a fast, personalized course of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the right inferior frontal cortex to see if it reduces symptoms in adults with treatment‑resistant OCD.
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Team-delivered exposure-based CBT for children and teens with anxiety and OCD
This test tries three ways of delivering team-based exposure-focused CBT—in-person, by telehealth, or a flexible mix—to see which works best for kids and teens (ages 5–18) with anxiety or OCD.
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Combining neurostimulation with emotion regulation training for emotional issues
This study is testing if combining brain stimulation with training on how to manage emotions can help people with emotional issues feel better.
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Low-intensity focused ultrasound targeting the subthalamic nucleus for OCD
A short test is being done to see if a wearable, non-invasive ultrasound device can safely and tolerably help adults with OCD by targeting a brain region called the subthalamic nucleus.
-
Focused ultrasound for mood and anxiety disorders
This study tests whether repeated low-intensity focused ultrasound using the ATTN201 device can help people with subsyndromal to moderate depression, anxiety, or OCD.
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.