Modification of Cerebral Activity of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Patients During Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy

Obsessive compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a frequent psychiatric disorder. Obsessions and compulsions are the two manifestations of this disease. Obsessions are recurrent anxious ideas, and compulsions repetitive behavior aiming to decrease this anxiety.

OCD symptoms have been associated with cortical and sub-cortical dysfunctions and more precisely an hyperactivity of prefrontal cortex / basal ganglia loops.

Functional neuro-imagery studies have shown a significant decrease of orbito-frontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, caudate nucleus and cerebellum activities after two OCD reference treatments : medication and Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Two groups of 20 patients are included in this study and follow a CBT for 15 sessions. They are randomised in two groups : one proposing a "reference CBT", the other associate CBT to a new psychopedagogic task developed by the investigators team.

Clinical investigations and neuro-imagery data are collected at the main steps of therapies : before, during (half-therapy), at the end of therapies and 6 month later. Symptoms severity, patients and relatives quality of life are also assessed.

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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

Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital

Paris, 75013, France

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

Age between 18 and 65;
Following Obsessive Compulsive Disorder criteria according to DSM IV(300.3 ;MINI 5.0.0);
OCD severity range from 20 to 30 on the Y-Brown obsessive compulsive scale;
Having checking symptoms;
Understanding and accepting the study;
Giving his written informed consent to the study.

Exclusion criteria

Claustrophobia;
Cerebral abnormality;
Chronic absenteism to CBT (more than 5 missed sessions during the whole therapy).

In case of exclusion of the study either decided by the patient himself or by the investigator, a debriefing is proposed by a psychologist.

Treatment and study plan

Cognitive and behavioral Therapy

Behavioral

15 CBT sessions with a psychologist expert in OCD treatment

Primary outcomes

Changes in brain activity associated with different types of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Time frame: before CBT, at half CBT (1.5 month), after CBT (3 months) and 6 six months later

Evaluation and comparison of changes in brain activity associated with different types of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France

Other Gov

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluation and Comparison of Cerebral Activities Modifications Associated With Two Different Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Patients

Acronym: TOC TOC

Important dates

Study start: 2009
Primary completion: 2012
Study completion: 2012
First posted: Apr 8, 2011
Registry last updated: Sep 4, 2025

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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Completed