East Providence, RI - The Pediatric Anxiety Research Center (PARC) at Bradley Hospital has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health to test a non-invasive type of brain stimulation called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for children and young adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This will be the first study to test TMS as a treatment for youth with OCD.
Two to three percent of children and adults are diagnosed with OCD, a disorder in which they experience obsessions (intrusive and distressing thoughts or images) that make them feel driven to complete compulsions (repetitive or unhelpful actions). These symptoms disrupt important areas of functioning and can negatively affect school, relationships, and daily activities. Untreated OCD in childhood can lead to problems later in life, including high rates of disability and increased likelihood of other disorders such as depression and substance use.
“Previous research has shown that specific brain networks operate differently in people with OCD. Unfortunately, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) —the leading talk therapy treatment for OCD—relies on those brain networks to be effective” said Kristen Benito, PhD, research and quality improvement lead at Bradley Hospital. “Our goal is to learn whether we can improve the effectiveness of CBT by using TMS to optimize functioning in those brain networks. If we’re successful, this could lead to a new treatment option for kids and young adults with OCD.”
TMS has been FDA-approved for adults with OCD but research in this area has not yet been extended to children. The study will test how OCD symptoms and brain functioning might change following daily treatment for two weeks with TMS and CBT. Researchers are focusing on youth ages 12-21 years old with OCD, a time in life when OCD symptoms can be particularly disruptive.
To learn more about this study in Rhode Island, please call 401-432-1662 or visit https://www.parcanxiety.org/next-study.
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