New Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder When Standard Treatment Doesn't Work

Plain-English translation of NCT06318806 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2024 · Translation generated July 2026 · How we translate trials

What is this trial?

This trial is testing whether a specialized form of cognitive-behavioral therapy called Inference-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) can help people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) whose symptoms haven't fully improved with standard treatment. I-CBT is different from the usual approach because it doesn't require you to deliberately face your fears and feel anxious during therapy sessions. The study will compare this newer treatment to continuing with standard treatment to see which works better.

Many people with OCD do improve with standard treatment, but only about 40% achieve full remission or recovery. Additionally, the standard treatment can be difficult and uncomfortable because it requires deliberately facing fearful situations. This trial exists to see if the newer approach might help more people recover while being easier to tolerate.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder
you have moderate to severe OCD symptoms (a score of 18 or higher on a standard OCD severity measure)
you are age 18 or older
you have a stable medication plan (no medication changes in the 4 to 8 weeks before starting)
you have reliable access to the internet via a computer or phone

You likely don't qualify if…

you are currently having severe thoughts of harming yourself or have recently attempted suicide
you have been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or severe developmental or intellectual disability
you have a severe substance abuse problem that would interfere with treatment
you are currently taking part in another therapy or counseling program

What participation looks like

First, all participants will receive 8 weeks of standard treatment to see how much it helps. If your symptoms don't fully improve after this initial treatment, you will be randomly assigned to receive either 18 sessions of the newer therapy approach or to continue with the standard treatment. Throughout the study, a trained clinician will measure your progress using standardized interviews and questionnaires to see which treatment works best for you.

New Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder When Standard Treatment Doesn't Work

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)