Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Treatment for Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (NCT07571187) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Treatment for Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
15 participantsStarted 2026-04
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a feasible treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder that worsens or starts within 12 months of childbirth. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Is TMS a tolerable and acceptable treatment for postpartum women with OCD?
Does TMS improve OCD symptoms in postpartum women?
Does TMS change connectivity between areas of the brain involved in OCD?
Participants will:
1. Receive 50 sessions of a type of TMS called continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the course of two weeks.
2. Complete clinical assessments before and after TMS, as well as at 1 and 3 months post-treatment
3. Undergo functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain before and after TMS
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 45 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Age 18-45
. Diagnosis of OCD defined by DSM-V criteria with problematic symptoms in the 12 months following childbirth
. YBOCS ≥16
. Either currently taking OCD medications at a stable dose for 8 weeks or unmedicated
. Concurrent psychotherapy (exposure and response prevention therapy) will be allowed if it was initiated 8 weeks or more before study entry and continues regularly throughout the trial
. Ability to read, write and understand English sufficiently well to complete study procedures and provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)
Timeframe: From enrollment to the end of treatment at two weeks, and from enrollment to 1 and 3 months post-treatment.
. Past history of a primary psychotic or bipolar disorder
. Current acute suicidality or significantly elevated risk of suicide as determined by the investigators
. Personal history of moderate traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, or other clinically significant neurological illness except tic disorders
. A history of pre-eclampsia during the most recent pregnancy if the patient is less than 8 weeks postpartum
. Current, moderate to severe alcohol or illicit substance use disorder in the last 3 months, determined by clinical assessment
. Women who are currently pregnant. All participants will be asked to use a reasonable birth control method throughout the study period (barrier, oral contraceptives, etc.). We will not administer pregnancy tests.