Efficacy of Intensified Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Efficacy of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Symptoms, Quality of Life, Cognitive Deficits and Brain Physiology of Patients With Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

This is a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, sham-controlled trial that aims to investigate the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) on improving symptoms, quality of life, depression, and cognitive functions in 39 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that are randomized in 3 experimental groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of Obsessive-compulsive Disorder by a psychiatrist and DSM-5-based behavioral checklist
• being 18-50 years old
• providing written informed consent
• If female, negative urine pregnancy test
• stable medication regime especially the classical neuroleptics and all CNS-activating medications, if taken, 4-6 weeks before the experiment and during the experiment

Exclusion Criteria:

• smoker
• pregnancy
• alcohol or substance dependence
• history of seizure
• history of neurological disorder
• history of head injury
• presence of ferromagnetic objects in the body that are contraindicated for brain stimulation of the head (pacemakers or other implanted electrical devices, brain stimulators, some types of dental implants, aneurysm clips, metallic prostheses, permanent eyeliner, implanted delivery pump, or shrapnel fragments) or fear of enclosed spaces.