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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01414023

Assessing the Effects of a Neurobehavioral Intervention on Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

This experiment will examine if the use of computerized tasks that train individuals to control their attention more effectively will predict individual differences in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, rumination and BDNF change. After giving consent, filling out self-report forms, and giving blood for the BDNF test, 80 participants will be randomized to Cognitive Control Training (CCT) or Peripheral Vision Task (PVT) (described below) which will be administered three times over a two week period. At the third visit, participants will also complete an anagram task and repeat the blood draw for BDNF testing. The investigators hypothesize that computerized tasks that train individuals to control their attention more effectively will reduce Obsessive Compulsive (OC) symptoms. Additionally, individuals training in CCT will show increased ability to disengage from unattainable goals as assessed by responses to an unsolvable anagram task. Finally, individuals training in CCT will show a greater increase in BDNF levels as compared to individuals training in PVT.

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Key information

Conditions

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults ages 18-65 years
  • OCI-R total score ≥ 16
  • Ability to read and provide informed consent.
  • Familiarity with a computer keyboard and mouse.

Exclusion criteria

  • BDI-II suicidality score of > 1

Treatment and study plan

Cognitive Control Training

Behavioral

Pace Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT;(Gronwall, 1977): A computer version of the PASAT will be used to measure sustained attention and working memory. Participants are asked to add serially presented numbers. Attention Control Intervention (Wells, 2000): This task involves training individuals to attend differentially to multiple auditory sources (e.g., by counting tones, discriminating the location of tones, and moving their attention between auditory sources for a prolonged period).

Peripheral Vision Task

Behavioral

Peripheral Vision Task (PVT; C. Moore, personal communication): This task serves as a non-active control condition which does not target the brain regions influenced by the Wells and PASAT tasks. Participants focus on the placement of dots on a computer screen in this task while listening to a tone.

Primary outcomes

  1. OCI-R scores

    Time frame: up to two weeks

    3 times over a two week period

Secondary outcomes

  1. BDNF serum levels

    Time frame: up to two weeks

    Two times over a two week period

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Boston University Charles River Campus

Other

Registry information

Acronym: CCT-OC

Important dates

Study start
2011
Primary completion
2012
Study completion
2012
First posted
Aug 11, 2011
Registry last updated
May 18, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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