Participate

Are you interested in participating in OCD research? See below for current studies recruiting participants in southern California. Note that some research studies may offer treatment at no cost and/or provide compensation for research assessments.

Do you have OCD? Are you over 18 years old? Have you disclosed your OCD to others? 

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine are interested in the experiences of disclosure in
individuals who have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The study involves a brief,
anonymous questionnaire about your experiences of and attitudes toward disclosure and your
OCD symptoms.
To participate, please use the link below: https://bcmpsych.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cUeP1Mhm7R8eGKW
For more information, please contact Molly Church at molly.church@bcm.edu
Thank you for your time and participation!
NOTE: Health information shared online is not secure. Please do not comment on this post with
any private or personal health information.

Tracking Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms and predicting response to treatment using Fitbit, neuroimaging, and smartphone surveys

Study Overview: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic, impairing disorder characterized by unwanted obsessions and/or compulsions. Not all persons with OCD are alike, resulting in a wide variety of symptoms, illness course, and response to treatment. The purpose of our OCD research study is to better understand differences in OCD symptoms and to predict both illness course and response to treatment. By comparing data from participants with OCD and healthy volunteers without OCD, we hope to provide enhanced treatments to future patients.Study Length: 10 weeksNumber of Visits: 3 in-person visits (initial visit, 2-week checkup, end-of-study visit). Daily survey sent via SMS-based text messaging (~5min).  Biweekly survey sent via SMS-based text messaging (~1min).

Procedures: Surveys (in-person and self-administered), Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Fitbit worn 24/7, For individuals with OCD, we will ask when SSRI medication is started by your doctor and if changes are made (like adjusting the dose or switching to a new medication)

Compensation: Participants will receive compensation for their time and effort and will be able to keep the Fitbit at the study end.

For questions about this study, contact:
Dr. Adam Frank
323-230-0162
adam.frank@med.usc.edu

Latin American Trans-ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics (LATINO) Study

Baylor College of Medicine and University of North Carolina would like to present the Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative for OCD Genomics, or LATINO. Led by Drs. James Crowley and Eric Storch, this new study seeks to collect the world’s largest ancestrally diverse sample of OCD cases (N = 5,000 Latin American individuals). This study will feature international collaborations with OCD clinics in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Paraguay, Peru, Bolivia, and Mexico, as well as OCD clinics in the U.S., including Houston, Miami, New Jersey, San Diego, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. This monumental study will address the current Latino representation gap in OCD genetic research by conducting a novel, wide-scale OCD genomic study with robust phenotyping. We hope that increased representation of Latin individuals will advance our ability to detect, diagnose, and treat individuals of Latino ancestry using precision medicine, as well as contribute to the diversification of OCD genomics as a whole. For more information on how to participate, please feel free to reach out to the project team at latinostudy@bcm.edu to learn more about our research and to find out how you could become involved, and/or click here: https://orit.research.bcm.edu/latinostudy/en

Are you an adult in the United States with hair pulling disorder (HPD) or skin picking disorder (SPD)? Do you own a Keen2 device? If so – you can volunteer for research!

A graduate student at Harvard Extension School is conducting a study using the Keen2 bracelet (by HabitAware) to test whether a new habit formation technique can help people reduce HPD/SPD symptoms. Eligible participants must already own a Keen2 device, have symptoms of HPD or SPD, live in the United States, and own a mobile phone with which to access study surveys. The study will involve wearing your Keen2 device daily and answering brief study surveys over a 28-day period. To find out more information and sign up to participate, please click the link below: https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9KQL9KHcvXkpRz0

Patient Perspectives on Neurocircuitry Procedures for OCD

Researchers at Brown University are conducting a survey to evaluate patient perspectives and attitudes toward neurocircuitry procedures (e.g., neurosurgery and TMS) for individuals with OCD.

To learn more and complete the survey, click here: https://redcap.carene.org/surveys/?s=FXA4HHDEKE

Study on the impact of COVID-19 on Children with OCD Ages 7 to 17

Case Western Reserve University, under Dr. Amy Przeworski, is conducting an online study to examine psychological symptoms in children 7-17 years old. The goal of the study is to learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on children and their families.

For this study, they need families of children with OCD and families of children who do not have the disorder.

To participate in the study, click here: https://cwru.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8678F95dgxjCcm1

For the flyer and more information, click here: http://ocdsocal.org/1838/1838/

New Investigational Medication Study

Join an exciting new study in the treatment of OCD. There hasn’t been new medication released for OCD since 1997. Biohaven is studying an investigational medication that modulates glutamate and would like you to know more. If you would like further information or would like to participate, please visit https://secure.treatmyocd.com/biohaven.html to get connected with a site near you.

OCD and Family Study

OCD is often linked with elevated family stress and burden. However, little is known about romantic relationships and parent-child relationships in adults with OCD. Researchers at the University of South Florida are conducting a study to better understand how OCD influences parenting behaviors and romantic relationships and to shed light on specific familial issues relative to OCD. If you would like further information or would like to participate, please visit https://www.facebook.com/ocdfamilystudy/or download the flyer here.

To learn more about how to participate in studies being conducted nationally, visit the IOCDF research participant page.