Using light therapy to help young adults with OCD
Light Therapy for Obsessive-compulsive Disorder: A Circadian Medicine Approach
This study is testing whether wearing light therapy glasses for an hour each morning can help young adults with OCD who stay up late feel better and improve their sleep patterns.
Quick facts
| Phase | Early Phase 1 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 17 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Washington University School of Medicine Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (St Louis, Missouri) |
| Trial ID | NCT06720090 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of light therapy in reducing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in young adults who have late bedtimes. Participants will wear light therapy glasses for one hour each morning over a five-week period and track their sleep patterns using a wearable monitor and electronic diary. The study will also assess the impact of different doses of light therapy on symptom reduction and circadian rhythm adjustments. Self-report measures of OCD symptoms will be collected multiple times throughout the study to gauge changes in severity.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are young adults aged 18-35 with a primary diagnosis of OCD and late bedtimes of 1am or later.
Not a fit: Patients who are currently participating in other research studies or have certain medical conditions or lifestyle factors may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a novel, non-invasive treatment option for young adults suffering from OCD.
How similar studies have performed: While light therapy has been explored for various conditions, this specific application for OCD in young adults is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Primary DSM-5 OCD diagnosis 2. Bedtime 0100 or later 3. Age 18-35 4. English speaking Exclusion Criteria: 1. Subjects must not be currently participating in another research study that would influence their participation in our study. 2. Diagnostic status 3. Treatment status 4. Night shift work or travel more than 1 time zone outside of Central Standard Time (CST) in the past month 5. Pregnancy status 6. Medication status 7. Regular nicotine or marijuana use
Where this trial is running
St Louis, Missouri
- Washington University — St Louis, Missouri, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Rebecca Cox, PhD — Washington University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Rebecca Cox, BA
- Email: scraplab@wustl.edu
- Phone: 314-935-8111
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.