Neurofeedback and Well-Being Among People With Co-Occurring Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms

Exploring the Influence of Neurofeedback on the Well-Being of People With Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms

The proposed study will collect novel data evaluating the feasibility of a neurofeedback training program delivered to prospective clients with a history of clinically concerning trauma-related mental health symptoms who are on a wait list to receive obsessive compulsive disorder-specific psychotherapy at an outpatient mental health clinic. This study will evaluate the influence of neurofeedback training on participant's overall sense of well-being, and additionally, whether any enhanced well-being is subsequently associated with positive changes in symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress, dissociation and other trauma-related mental health symptoms, emotional regulation, etc.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. being a client placed on the clinic waitlist to receive exposure-response prevention for OCD symptoms at the Anxiety and OCD Treatment Center of Ann Arbor, in Ann Arbor, MI.
2. having self-reported symptoms of OCD;
3. having post-traumatic stress symptoms as indicated by a score of 3 or higher on the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) screening measure;
4. being age 18+.
5. being a citizen of the United States of America -

Exclusion Criteria:

1. a lifetime history of significant untreated mental illness (not currently treated schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorder) or neurological or pervasive developmental disorder;
2. a documented history of epilepsy;
3. lifetime history of any head injury with loss of consciousness;
4. current exposure domestic or intimate partner violence or otherwise state that their current living conditions are unsafe;
5. current experiences of psychosis or suicidality within the last six months;
6. currently taking, or in the past month has taken benzodiazepines, narcotic drugs, or cannabis;
7. currently pregnant
8. engagement in self-harming behaviors in the last 3 months that required medical attention;
9. lack of competence to understand or consent to the study procedures;
10. lack of fluency in written and spoken English. -