Accelerated Rotational Field Deep TMS for Treating OCD

This study is a randomized, double-blind clinical trial designed to compare the efficacy of active rfTMS coil targeting the mPFC and ACC with an inactive sham treatment. Conducted over a 13-week period, the trial includes 39 treatment sessions following an accelerated protocol. Eligible participants are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the active treatment or sham group. Each daily treatment comprises three sessions separated by 1-hour intervals, resulting in a total treatment duration of 2.5 hours per day. The treatment regimen is structured into three distinct phases (Figure 1): (1) an acute phase (week 1), in which participants are treated for five consecutive days (totaling 15 sessions); (2) a maintenance phase (weeks 2-6), during which participants are treated once per week for five weeks (totaling 15 sessions); and (3) a follow-up phase during which participants are treated every visit at weeks 8, 10, and 13 (totaling 9 sessions). Imaging sessions are conducted at baseline and at the end of the maintenance session.

Inclusion criteria

• Outpatients
• Diagnosed as suffering from OCD according to the DSM-V.
• Subjects with a YBOCS score of >20.
• If on SRI, patient must be maintained on current dosages (with or without additional antidepressant or psychotropic augmentation for treatment of OCD), at a stable therapeutic dosage for at least 2 months prior to study entry and for the duration of the trial.
• If in CBT, must be in the maintenance stage (i.e., not receiving active training in exposure and response prevention, which is the core component of this treatment). CBT can be with teletherapy but must be for a minimum of ten sessions with a symptom checklist, hierarchy, with exposure and response prevention therapy.
• Have negative or justified responses by the investigator to all questions listed on the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Safety Screening questionnaire (TASS).
• According to the treating physician the subject is compliant with taking medication, if applicable.
• Subject is capable and willing to provide informed consent and assent.
• Willing and able to adhere to the treatment schedule.
• All comorbid diagnoses have been stable for 3 months and anticipated to be stable for the 3 months treatment duration.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects diagnosed as suffering from any other Axis I diagnosis as the primary diagnosis.
• Comorbid, secondary psychiatric diagnoses are unstable and are likely to require changes in therapeutic regimens even if OCD improves.
• Present suicidal risk as assessed by the investigator using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, brief mental status exam and psychiatric interview or a history of attempted suicide in the past year.
• History of epilepsy or seizure (EXCEPT those therapeutically induced by ECT and febrile seizures in infancy).
• Increased risk of seizure for any reason, including prior diagnosis of increased intracranial pressure, or history of significant head trauma with loss of consciousness for greater than or equal to 5 minutes.
• History of head injury necessitating cranial surgery or prolonged coma.
• History of any ferromagnetic of conductive material in the head including the eyes and ears (outside the mouth).
• Known history of any metallic particles in the eye, implanted neurostimulators, intracranial implant (e.g., aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes).
• History of significant hearing loss.
• Subjects with significant neurological disorder or insult
• Substance use disorder within the past 6 months (except nicotine and caffeine and based on the doctor's judgment).
• Currently participating in another therapeutic clinical study.
• Suffer from an unstable physical, systemic and metabolic disorder such as unstable blood pressure, unstable blood sugar, or acute, unstable cardiac disease.
• Subject on high doses of antidepressant or psychotropic medications, which are known to lower the seizure threshold. Subject is currently on Clomipramine.
• Significant possibility of death within eighteen months of baseline.
• Planned surgeries that will interrupt the study schedule within four months of baseline.
• Women who are breast-feeding.
• Women who are pregnant or with suspected pregnancy.
• Women of childbearing potential and not using a medically accepted form of contraception when engaging in sexual intercourse.