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NCT Number: NCT04967560

The Efficacy and Safety of ALIC/NAcc-DBS for Treatment-refractory OCD

The present study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of DBS targeted the combination of the anterior limb of internal capsule and nucleus accumbens (ALIC/NAcc-DBS) to refractory OCD, based on multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, sham-stimulation controlled design, that could help to obtain stronger evidence of the efficacy of multiple targets.

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Key information

Conditions

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China

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About this study

OCD is a chronic and disabled mental disorder, with one third of patients could hardly get recovery from the medication and psychotherapy. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a novel potential surgical treatment for refractory OCD, however, the choose of targets are still controversial. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of bilateral DBS of the anterior limb of internal capsule and nucleus accumbens (ALIC/NAcc-DBS) for treatment-refractory OCD. In this multicenter, prospective, and double-blinded study, 64 patients with OCD who met the eligibility criteria will be enrolled and randomized allocated to active and sham-stimulation group, followed up for three months after surgery. Then the blind will be uncover, the sham group switch to true stimulation, all patients will be followed up at six months after surgery. The primary outcome was to compare the treatment response rate between the active group and sham-controlled group at the end of three months after surgery. The secondary outcomes include changes in the Yale-brown obsessive-compulsive scale (Y-BOCS), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), and Clinical global impressions (CGI) scale of both groups.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • aged 18-65 years old;
  • a diagnosis of OCD based on The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5);
  • suffered from severe OCD symptoms over 5 years with substantial functional impairment;
  • the Y-BOCS total score ≥ 25;
  • met the criteria of treatment refractory. Treatment refractory is defined as failed 1) at least three adequate therapeutic trials of serotin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), with clomipramine being one of the SRIs trials, 2) the use of at least two atypical antipsychotics as augmenting agents, 3) at least 12 sessions of therapist-guided cognitive-behavioral therapy while on a therapeutic dose of an SRIs. These patients have "failed" treatment by demonstrating <25% reduction of Y-BOCS scores or, despite >25% reduction in YBOCS score, by still experiencing significant impairment from their illness.

Exclusion criteria

  • a history of current or past diagnosis of any psychosis according to DSM-5 except for OCD
  • any clinical significant neurological disorder, traumatic brain injury, dementia, or medical illness
  • any contradiction of neurosurgery
  • any current or unstably remitted substance abuse or dependence
  • women who are pregnant or preparing for pregnant
  • severe suicide risk and tendency according to the investigators' judgements
  • participate in any other clinical trials within three months (except for registered studies).

Treatment and study plan

Deep brain stimulation

Device

Both group will undergo the DBS surgery. Four weeks after surgery, all patients will visit the clinic with the DBS stimulation in the 'off' state for initial programming of electrical parameters for stimulation. At double-blind visit, the electrical stimulation will be actually 'turned on' immediately after the programming in true-stimulation group, while turn-off in the control group.

Primary outcomes

  1. Treatment response rate

    Time frame: three month after stimulus

    Our primary outcome measure was to compare the treatment response rate (TRR) between the active group and sham-controlled group at the end of three months. (TRR is defined as the number of treatment response/the number of group, a ≥35% reduction in Y-BOCS plus CGI=1or2 met the criteria of treatment response). Note: Y-BOCS, Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale; CGI, clinical global impression.

Secondary outcomes

  1. the change scores of Y-BOCS at double-blinded stage

    Time frame: three month after stimulus

    The severity of OCD symptoms was assessed using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). This scale including 10 items, the maximum score is 40. The higher score means the more serious of disease.

  2. the change scores of CGI at double-blinded stage

    Time frame: three month after stimulus

    The Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) is an invaluable tool for monitoring the treatment outcomes of patients.The CGI actually comprises three companion one-item measures evaluating the following: (a) severity of psychopathology from 1 to 7, (b) change from the initiation of treatment on a similar seven-point scale, and (c) an overall evaluation of the theraputic effect and side effects.

  3. the change scores of HAMD at double-blinded stage

    Time frame: three month after stimulus

    The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) is used to quantify the severity of symptoms of depression and is one of the most widely used and accepted instruments for assessing depression. It contains 24 items rated on 5-point scale, with the sum of all items making up the total score, yielding total scores from zero to 96. The higher score means more severity of depression symptoms.

  4. the change scores of HAMA at double-blinded stage

    Time frame: three month after stimulus

    The Hamilton Anxity Rating Scale (HAM-A) was one of the first rating scales developed to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms. The scale consists of 14 items, each defined by a series of symptoms, and measures both psychic anxiety and somatic anxiety. Each item is scored on a scale of 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), with a total score range of 0-56, where <17 indicates mild severity, 18-24 mild to moderate severity and 25-30 moderate to severe.

  5. the change scores of Y-BOCS at open-label stage

    Time frame: six month after stimulus

    The severity of OCD symptoms was assessed using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). This scale including 10 items, the maximum score is 40. The higher score means the more serious of disease.

  6. the change scores of CGI at open-label stage

    Time frame: six month after stimulus

    The Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) is an invaluable tool for monitoring the treatment outcomes of patients.The CGI actually comprises three companion one-item measures evaluating the following: (a) severity of psychopathology from 1 to 7, (b) change from the initiation of treatment on a similar seven-point scale, and (c) an overall evaluation of the theraputic effect and side effects.

  7. the change scores of HAMD at open-label stage

    Time frame: six month after stimulus

    The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) is used to quantify the severity of symptoms of depression and is one of the most widely used and accepted instruments for assessing depression. It contains 24 items rated on 5-point scale, with the sum of all items making up the total score, yielding total scores from zero to 96. The higher score means more severity of depression symptoms.

  8. the change scores of HAMA at open-label stage

    Time frame: six month after stimulus

    The Hamilton Anxity Rating Scale (HAM-A) was one of the first rating scales developed to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms. The scale consists of 14 items, each defined by a series of symptoms, and measures both psychic anxiety and somatic anxiety. Each item is scored on a scale of 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), with a total score range of 0-56, where <17 indicates mild severity, 18-24 mild to moderate severity and 25-30 moderate to severe.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Shanghai Mental Health Center

Other

Collaborators

  • Changhai Hospital
  • First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University
  • Huashan Hospital
  • Hunan Brain Hospital
  • SceneRay Corporation, Limited
  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University
  • West China Hospital

Registry information

Official study title

The Efficacy and Safety of Deep Brain Stimulation of Combined Anterior Limb of Internal Capsule and Nucleus Accumbens (ALIC/NAcc-DBS) for Treatment-refractory Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jul 19, 2021
Registry last updated
Jul 6, 2026

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

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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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