An interventional study of Continuous Theta-Burst Stimulation in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Electroencephalography, sponsored by Anhui Medical University. Completed at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-27.
Sponsored by Anhui Medical University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This single-arm, open-label study evaluates short-term symptom improvement and tolerability of continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder seeking a non-drug treatment option. Participants receive cTBS for 15 consecutive days. Symptoms are assessed before treatment and 1-2 days after the treatment course.
This study uses a single-arm, open-label design to evaluate short-term clinical changes following cTBS in adults with OCD seeking a non-pharmacological intervention. All enrolled participants receive active cTBS, with no sham or other treatment comparison group. The study focuses on within-participant changes from baseline to the post-treatment assessment.
Stimulation targets the individually localized right pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA). Pretreatment structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging are used for individualized targeting. The stimulation site is selected within the right pre-SMA based on its functional connectivity with the right subthalamic nucleus. Neuronavigation guides coil placement during treatment.
Participants receive three cTBS stimulation blocks per day, totaling 1,800 pulses daily, over 15 consecutive days. Stimulation intensity is set at 80% of the resting motor threshold. The short duration of each stimulation block motivates investigation of this approach in clinical practice; overall visit duration also includes targeting, preparation, and intervals between stimulation blocks.
The primary outcome is the change in Y-BOCS total score from pretreatment to 1-2 days after completion of the treatment course. Anxiety and depressive symptoms are assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, respectively.
Treatment tolerability is assessed by asking participants about discomfort and other adverse experiences during treatment sessions and after completion of the course. No dedicated adverse-event rating scale is used. Clinical outcomes are interpreted in the context of the open-label, uncontrolled design.
635 studies on the registry are indexed under Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; 166 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 60 is above the median of 45 across 520 interventional studies indexed under Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Browse Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder studies →Anhui Medical University is the lead sponsor of 104 studies on the registry; 50 are open to participants now.
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Device: Continuous Theta-Burst Stimulation
Continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) is delivered to the individually localized right pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) using a Magstim Rapid2 stimulator with a 70-mm figure-of-eight coil. The target is selected based on pretreatment resting-state fMRI connectivity with the right subthalamic nucleus, and coil placement is guided by neuronavigation. Stimulation consists of three-pulse bursts at 50 Hz repeated at 5 Hz, at 80% of the resting motor threshold. Three sessions of 600 pulses each are delivered daily at 15-minute intersession intervals, totaling 1,800 pulses per day, for 15 consecutive days.
Symptom improvement assessed by the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale
The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale is a test to rate the severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, which measures obsessions separately from compulsions. The scale includes 10 items, the first 5 items are evaluated obsessions, the rest are assessments compulsions. Each item 0-4 points, a total of 40 points. The lower the score, the better the outcome.
Time frame: pre-treatment; 1-2 days post-treatment
Ran from Aug 2019 to primary completion in Aug 2025, 72 months.
Of 234 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, half reached primary completion within 43 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 22 and three quarters within 65. This study's 72 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 237 studies reached it within 43 months; a quarter within 22 and three quarters within 65.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder →