Precision Brain Mapping to Predict and Track Response to Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy in Youth With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether brain scan results can help predict and track changes in obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, symptoms in children and teens ages 10 to 17 who receive Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, also called ERP. ERP is a type of therapy in which participants practice facing OCD-related fears while resisting rituals or compulsions.

The main question this study aims to answer is:

Can each participant's pattern of brain connections, measured with functional MRI brain scans, help predict and track weekly changes in OCD symptoms during and after a 14-week course of ERP, including during planned monthly booster sessions and additional booster sessions offered if symptoms worsen?

All participants will receive ERP. There is no placebo and no comparison group.

Participants will:

* Complete screening, consent or assent, interviews, questionnaires, and MRI safety checks
* Receive 14 weekly ERP sessions
* Complete OCD symptom assessments and functional MRI brain scans before, during, and after ERP
* Receive planned monthly ERP booster sessions after the 14 weekly sessions
* Receive additional brief ERP booster sessions if OCD symptoms worsen during follow-up
* Take part for up to about 62 weeks

Conditions

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is an evidence-based form of cognitive behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. ERP involves graded exposure to obsession-triggering cues while supporting participants in refraining from compulsive responses. In this study, participants receive 14 planned weekly ERP sessions of approximately 60 minutes each, followed by three scheduled monthly booster sessions and optional symptom-triggered booster sessions during the maintenance phase. ERP may be delivered in person or by HIPAA-compliant telehealth.

OTHER

Clinical Assessments

Participants complete repeated clinical assessments according to the study schedule to evaluate obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom severity, symptom change, functioning, safety, and related clinical outcomes over time. Assessments may include clinician-administered ratings, participant-report measures, and other study outcome measures. These assessments are conducted for research and clinical monitoring purposes and are not intended as a therapeutic intervention.

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Research MRI Sessions

Participants complete research magnetic resonance imaging sessions at scheduled study time points to acquire structural and functional MRI data, including functional MRI measures used to evaluate brain connectivity over time. Imaging sessions are used to examine changes in brain circuitry in relation to obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and treatment course. These sessions are conducted for research measurement purposes and are not intended to provide clinical diagnosis or treatment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Weill Medical College of Cornell University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Conor Liston, MD, PhD · Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

10 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-11-01

Primary Completion

2030-11-01

Completion

2031-11-01

Countries

• United States

Study Locations