Study on Using Cold Water Vestibular Stimulation to Improve Insight in Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

What this Trial Is About

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders OCRD, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder, cause chronic and disabling symptoms that affect millions. These disorders involve intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, and insight into these symptoms varies among individuals. This research evaluates whether stimulating the vestibular system on one side of the head can change insight levels in people with OCRD by activating brain areas thought to influence awareness of illness. Participants with OCRD will undergo caloric vestibular stimulation by receiving about a 60-second infusion of cold 4C distilled water into either the right or left external ear canal. The study randomly assigns participants to one of these two groups. Before and after the stimulation, researchers will assess changes in OCD symptom severity and insight using clinical measures. During the study, participants will be evaluated using the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale BABS to measure changes in clinical insight. This assessment occurs about one hour after the stimulation. The study design includes single blinding and randomized allocation. Participants must meet specific diagnostic and safety criteria and will be monitored throughout the trial, which runs until December 2026.

Caloric Vestibular Stimulation for Modulation of Insight in Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders