Plain-English translation of NCT05577598 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.
This trial is testing whether deep brain stimulation (DBS)—a surgically implanted device that sends gentle electrical pulses to specific brain areas—can help people with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder who haven't benefited from medications or therapy. Researchers will compare how well the device works when it's actively stimulating your brain versus when it's turned off, while measuring changes in brain activity using a special imaging scan.
Many people with obsessive-compulsive disorder don't improve enough with standard treatments like medications and therapy. This trial exists to see whether deep brain stimulation offers hope for these patients by directly targeting the brain circuits involved in the condition.
You likely qualify if…
You likely don't qualify if…
You would have the DBS device surgically implanted during the first four weeks of the study. After surgery, you'll spend eight weeks with the device actively stimulating your brain, then enter a 12-week period where you (and your doctors) won't know whether the device is on or off. Finally, you'll spend 12 more weeks with the opposite setting. Throughout the 36-week study, you'll visit the clinic at least twice a month for check-ups and brain imaging scans to measure how the treatment is affecting your brain. After the study ends, if the device is helping you, treatment will continue as long as it remains clinically beneficial.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 14, 2026 · Not medical advice
Austria
Sponsor
Medical University of Vienna
Enrollment target
~8 participants
Started
April 2022
Primary completion
May 2026
This trial's estimated completion date has passed — the record may not be fully up to date.
Age range
18 Years – 75 Years
Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in June 2025.
Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.
Central contact
Christoph Kraus, MD PhD
Medical University of Vienna, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.