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Researchers are looking for participants to test a potential new treatment for OCD

Volunteers taking part will be reimbursed for their time (including reasonable travel costs) and may be offered the study medication free of charge for 48 weeks.

Danny Jones - 17th November 2023

A leading clinical research organisation is running a clinical trial to test a potential new medication for people living with OCD.

According to the NHS, it is estimated that a quarter of a million people are living with OCD in the UK at some point in their lives, that’s equivalent to 12 in every 1,000. 

This number increases drastically when we consider those who haven’t received a diagnosis who could be living with OCD symptoms and not receiving the professional support they may need or understand why they are experiencing intrusive thoughts.

Dr Alex Worthington, Clinical Research Physician at MAC Clinical Research, explains that “obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly referred to as OCD, is a mental health condition with three main parts: obsessions, emotions, and compulsions.

"Obsessions are persistent thoughts, images, doubts, worries, or urges that intrude on an individual’s mind, despite being unwanted.

"These thoughts can cause significant mental discomfort or anxiety. Some of the emotions felt due to intrusive thoughts can include guilt, depression, and disgust.

"Compulsions refer to repetitive behaviours that an individual engages in to temporarily alleviate the anxiety caused by the obsession. Examples of compulsions include checking if a door is locked multiple times or repeating certain phrases mentally."

There’s a need for more effective treatment options for OCD, which is why award-winning clinical research organisation, MAC Clinical Research is conducting a clinical trial to test a potential new treatment that is hoped to reduce OCD symptoms and ultimately improve quality of life.

If you or someone you know has been living with OCD or OCD symptoms, and provided you meet the overall criteria, you could be reimbursed up to £490 for your time and participation in the clinical trial plus reasonable travel expenses.

If the treatment works, you may be able to receive nearly a year's worth (48 weeks) of the medication free of charge as part of an open-label extension study. 

You can find out more and register your interest HERE.

As explained in the summary for this clinical trial, "people with OCD tend to have signalling pathways in the brain which are overactive, causing intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviour or other OCD symptoms.

"Previous clinical trials suggest that the study medication works to dampen down these overactive pathways which may help people with OCD when used in combination with their usual antidepressant medication."

The study is expected to run for approximately five months. The trial itself will involve taking the oral medication or a placebo daily for ten weeks alongside seven visits to the clinic for check-ups to examine if your OCD symptoms improve and how well you are coping with taking the medication.

As part of International OCD Awareness Week, MAC also looked into how the condition affects people in the workplace and answered some of the public's pressing questions surrounding the disorder with one of the organisation's leading psychiatrists, Dr David Gregory.

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To ensure optimal safety, each study participant must meet a pre-determined set of eligibility criteria. To be eligible for the trial, you need to: 

• Be aged between 18-65
• Have had OCD symptoms or an OCD diagnosis for at least 1 year that affects daily life.
• Be taking an antidepressant for your OCD that isn’t fully helping.

To ensure optimal patient safety, participants must not have any of the following:

• Bipolar, schizophrenia, autism, Tourette’s, or other psychiatric conditions
• Diagnosed with an eating disorder.
• Have diabetes that requires insulin.

Other criteria will apply.

If you want to learn more about MAC Clinical Research or if you're considering being part of the clinical trial, you can learn more and register your interest by visiting their OCD research webpage.

Featured Image — MAC Clinical Trial/The Manc Group