Procedures: Individuals with OCD
What procedures will be involved in this research?
This study consists of several steps, which will all occur within one week. These steps include:
- Interview and questionnaires
- Behavioral tasks
- MRI scan
- A follow-up interview 12 months after the MRI scan.
Embedded in this research, is a treatment study for which you could be eligible if you qualify for inclusion in the parent (main) study and if you are interested. Treatment will entail a 12 weeks open-label medication known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or an SSRI. This is not an experimental medicine: it is proven and is frequently used to treat OCD, and is considered to be safe. Treatment will entail taking an SSRI up to the maximum recommended or tolerated dose (e.g., increasing the dose gradually, and under supervision of one of the study doctors, and treatment will proceed as you would ordinarily receive from a typical mental health clinician (i.e. under naturalistic conditions), for weeks 12 – 52. The aim of this embedded study is to identify the things that are associated with treatment response to an SSRI in adults with OCD.
All study procedures, including the embedded treatment study, will take place either at the MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, in the Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University (nrs 1, 2 and 4 below), and at the MRI centre [CUBIC] at Groote Schuur Hospital (nr 3), in Cape Town.
Re 1.) Interview and questionnaires: You will complete an interview with a member of our research team, and you will be asked to fill out questionnaires that ask you about your thoughts and feelings. Our research team will also ask you about your medical history, measure your weight and height, and ask some questions to make sure you are a good fit for the MRI scanner.
Re 2.) Behavioral tasks: You will also complete several behavioral tasks that evaluate different types of brain function. Most of these tasks will be delivered on a computer.
Re 3.) MRI Scan: You will undergo an MRI scan that takes approximately 45 minutes. An MRI is a machine that uses magnetism and radio waves to take pictures of your brain.
Re 4.) Follow-up interview 12 months after the MRI scan: You will again complete an interview (in person or over the phone) with a member of our research team.
Re the treatment study: If you take part in this leg of the project, you undergo the above procedures, as well as assessments at weeks 2, 4, 8 and 12, as well as 3-montly follow-ups after these. These additional assessments will be in-person, or telephonically.