Cognitive Training in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Clinical Trial

— CTOCD  

Official title:

Cognitive Training in Patients With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Terminated

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02818088
• Other study ID #: S14/05/113
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 2016
• Est. completion date: December 2019

Study information

• Verified date: May 2021
• Source: University of Stellenbosch
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This unique study will allow us to observe the neural correlates associated with working memory in an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) paradigm. We believe that developing working memory in participants suffering with OCD will reduce the severity of their symptomology. This will allow a greater understanding into the functioning of these participants which in turn presents with treatment possibilities.

Description:

It is currently unclear whether cognitive training using a working memory task, is effective in reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms and neuropsychological deficits in patients with OCD. Two groups (OCD and control) will be recruited. Both groups will undergo an intervention consisting of 8 weeks of cognitive training. Working memory, neuropsychological functioning and OCD symptomatology will be assessed pre and post-treatment, in both groups. Furthermore neuroimaging using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will be conducted at baseline as well as at the end of the 8 week period in both groups. The scan will serve to show any structural or functional changes in the frontostriatal area involved with working memory. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to date to examine whether cognitive training improves symptoms in OCD.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Terminated
• Enrollment: 9
• Est. completion date: December 2019
• Est. primary completion date: December 2019
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• A primary diagnosis of OCD, with a score > 16 on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) (Goodman et al, 1989b, 1006-1011).
• Participants must be aged older than 18 and younger than 65 years.
• Right handed.
• If taking SSRI's the participant needs to be on a stable dose for at least 2 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Significant physical or neurological illnesses. An exception will be made for patients taking SSRI's (and not using any other drugs).
• Any significant current DSM disorder (in addition to OCD).
• Past history of significant substance or alcohol abuse.
• Pregnancy.
• Any metal pins/ prostheses or cardiac pacemakers.
• Sufferers of claustrophobia.
• Head injury

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Intervention

Behavioral:
• n-Back (Cognitive Training)

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
South Africa	Stellenbosch University	Cape Town	Western Cape

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Stellenbosch	University of Cape Town

Country where clinical trial is conducted

South Africa, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)		Immediately after intervention
Primary	Cambridge neuropsychological test automated battery (CANTAB)		Immediately after intervention