Evaluating Hormone Effects on Brain and OCD Treatment Using Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy in Adults Aged 18-45

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how hormone changes during the menstrual cycle affect the brains fear extinction network and the effectiveness of Exposure and Response Prevention EXRP therapy in adults with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD. This study includes both men and women aged 18 to 45, aiming to understand biological sex differences and optimize EXRP treatment. The study is interventional and involves neuroimaging and hormonal assessments alongside symptom evaluations. Participants will undergo a brief EXRP therapy protocol consisting of 8 sessions, which includes two psychoeducation and planning sessions followed by six exposure sessions. Male participants will complete this therapy within a 10-day window. Female participants will be randomly assigned to complete the therapy during either the early follicular phase first 10 days after menstruation starts or the late follicular to early luteal phase days 12-22 of the menstrual cycle. This design helps examine the effects of hormonal fluctuations on treatment outcomes. Throughout the study, participants will have neuroimaging scans and hormonal tests before and after the therapy, along with OCD symptom ratings. The main outcomes measured include brain activity via fMRI and OCD symptom changes over approximately four weeks. The study will monitor safety and treatment response, aiming to provide insights that could personalize therapy for women with OCD based on hormonal cycles.

How Hormones and Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP) Affect the Brain of People With OCD