Using Electronically Delivered Therapy and Brain Imaging to Understand Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Pathophysiology:...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent anxiety disorder with unknown pathophysiology, often linked to basal ganglia and frontal cortex dysfunction.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention is the gold standard treatment but faces accessibility barriers.
• Electronically delivered CBT (e-CBT) offers a structured, accessible alternative to in-person therapy for OCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement an e-CBT program for individuals with OCD.
• To investigate the effects of e-CBT on brain activation patterns using functional MRI.
• To hypothesize a decrease in basal ganglia and frontal cortex activation post-treatment.

Main Methods:

• A 16-week e-CBT program with exposure and response prevention was administered via a secure web platform.
• Symptom severity was assessed using validated questionnaires at baseline, week 8, and week 16.
• Functional MRI was used to measure brain activation in resting state and during exposure to anxiety-provoking stimuli before and after treatment.

Main Results:

• Participant recruitment initiated in January 2021, with 5 individuals recruited to date.
• Data collection is scheduled to conclude by January 2022, with analysis expected by February 2022.
• The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04630197).

Conclusions:

• This research seeks to advance the understanding of OCD's underlying causes.
• The findings may contribute to the development of more effective therapeutic interventions for OCD.
• Analyzing brain activation changes associated with e-CBT can elucidate OCD pathophysiology.