Research into OCD

Research for OCD is long overdue and in this section we will share research projects and allow students to post details of their research projects.

For those people affected by OCD please continue to check this page for details of the latest research projects where your important comments will often be required.

Researchers: Please note that we only accept requests for NHS ethically approved research, and all listing requests must include your NHS ethical committee reference number and contact details for the ethical board that approved the study.

 

Does your Spouse / Partner have OCD?

My name is Rachel Orr. I am a trainee clinical psychologist from Lancaster University, completing this project as part of my doctorate qualification. I would be really interested in hearing from anyone (over the age of 18) who is living with a spouse / partner (also aged 18 or over) who has OCD or obsessions and / or compulsions. To take part, you will have been living together in the same household for at least one year.

I am interested in interviewing people about how they respond to their spouses’ or partners’ obsessions / behaviours. I would be really interested in hearing from people about their experiences of this. 

For more information about the study, and how to get involved please open the information sheet in either PDF or Word format.

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Ethical Approval Reference: (Ethical contact: Keren Cohen, Institute for Health Research, Lancaster University, LA1 4YT. - Telephone: 01524 592127 )

 

Online Survey Investigating the Fear of Contamination

This study forms part of a series of research which aims to understand more about the nature of anxiety disorders, in particular the thoughts and feelings surrounding the fear of contamination.  As part of this research, we would like to ask you to complete a short online questionnaire about the types of problems you are currently experiencing.  We are interested in hearing from both people with and without contamination concerns.

This research forms part of a PhD at the University of Reading and is supervised by Professor Roz Shafran. 

For more information about the study, and how to get involved please open the information sheet in either PDF or Word format.

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Ethical Approval Reference: 07/Q1602/71. (Ethical contact: Berkshire NHS Local Research Ethics Committee - Telephone: 0118 918 0550 )

 

Memory, Thinking Skills and Obsessive-Compulsive Experiences

We would like to invite you to take part in a research study that aims to investigate the relationships between Obsessive-Compulsive experiences and various types of memory and thinking skills. This will hopefully lead to better understanding of these experiences and could therefore help improve treatment options.

For more information about the study, and how to get involved please open the information sheet in either PDF or Word format.

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Ethical Approval Reference: 07/H1306/158 and the University of Leeds Institute of Psychological Sciences ethics committees. (Ethical contact: Leeds (East) Research Ethics Committee - 0113 206 5637 )

 

Has your child got OCD?

Are you interested in taking part in a research project investigating the caregiving experiences of parents of children and young people with a diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder?

I am undertaking this research as part of my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Canterbury Christ Church University.  I am interested in the experiences parents have of caring for a child with OCD. I am looking for parents/ carers of children under 18 years who are willing to write about their experiences and complete a few questionnaires.

If you are interested in this study and would like to find out more please contact Annabel Futh on 01892 50 7673.  This is a 24-hour answerphone.    Please leave my name, your name and your contact details and I will contact you within a few days.  Alternatively you can email me at af96@cant.ac.uk.

Ethical Approval Reference: 07/H0807/42 (Ethical contact: The Joint South London and Maudsley and The Institute of Psychiatry NHS Research Ethics Committee - 020 3299 5033 )

Participants needed for research into the boundaries between different psychiatric diagnoses

This research aims to look at whether psychiatric diagnoses are really separate from each other, or whether people with different diagnoses share symptoms and experiences.

If you experience difficulties with OCD, or any other kind of anxiety disorder, I would really like to interview you about your symptoms. The interview takes between 30 and 60 minutes, and could be carried out at a convenient location for you, such as your home or an NHS facility near you. I can also pay your travel expenses, if you have any.

This research will form part of my doctorate in clinical psychology, and has been approved by the University of Liverpool research committee. It is hoped that the findings will be published to add to the literature that will improve diagnostic practices in the future.

I would be happy to answer any queries about the research – contacting me does not mean that you have to take part. I am happy travel within the North West region, to interview people at home, or at local NHS facilities. If you live further away than this, but would like to take part, please call me and we can try to arrange something convenient!

Thank you!

Contact:            Gemma Parker
Telephone:        0151 794 5534 or 0151 794 5530
Email:               gparker@liv.ac.uk

This study is NRES ethically approved from the Merseycare NHS Trust.

DTI study in early-onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

General Information
The University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry is recruiting participants between the ages of 12-18 who have been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder for a study exploring the nerve connections in the brain which may be associated with the disorder. If you are interested in taking part, please read the following information letter and contact Dr A James at the Warneford Hospital in Oxford on 01865 226285. In order to take part written consent must be obtained from the participant and their parent/guardian.

What is the purpose of the study?
I am approaching you, as a teenager who has suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder to see whether you would be willing to help in a research project, which hopes to answer questions about the growth and development of the brain in adolescence and how this relates to obsessive-compulsive disorder. We are study the nerve connections or white matter tracts in the brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or brain scan. This is safe and is non invasive, however, if there is a possibility of you being pregnant then we would advise against the scan.

If you decide to take part the research will consist of three parts:
1. MRI brain scan The study will involve a MRI brain scan, which gives very detailed pictures of the brain, and its structure. The aim of the research is to see how the growth of nerve fibre tracts develop in young people, some of whom have had experiences similar to yours, and who are still developing compared to adults. These nerve fibre tracts carry information from one part of the brain to another. This procedure will take about 30 minutes in all and you would be asked to lie on a table in the scanner, which is like a large tube. The machine, however, can be noisy so earplugs are given to you, you will also be able to listen to music through special headphones. (You can bring your own CD or radio to listen to). You are also given a buzzer to press in case you want the scan to stop at any time. The procedure is safe and there are no side effects in taking part. The scan will only be used for research purposes and will be kept confidential. The scan is not diagnostic, however, in the unlikely chance that an abnormality is detected this will be discussed with you and passed on to your psychiatrist or GP with your permission.

2. Psychological Assessment
A psychologist will also undertake tests of intelligence and memory, which should last one and half hours. This part of the study can be done at your convenience. These tests involve sitting in front of a computer screen and identifying shapes, some general knowledge and problem solving tests.

3. Psychiatric Interview
We would as you first to have a short interview with a research psychiatrist who will ask you some questions which will last about one hour.

What are the side effects of taking part?
MRI scanning is safe with very few risks or side effects. You may, however, experience some discomfort, due to scanner noise which can be reduced by listening to a CD of your choice (please bring one along and take it back!) or watch a video or listen to the radio. If you wish we can supply earplugs. You may want to have your parent/ guardian with you in the scanner room or a member of the research team.

MRI scanning is a very safe procedure with very little risk. The MRI scans are not used for diagnosis, however, if an abnormality is detected, then a neuroradiologist will be asked to inspect the scan. The results of this will be discussed with you and you will be given appropriate medical advice. There is no intended clinical benefit from taking part in the trial, however, the information we get from this study may help us to understand and hopefully in the longer-term treat future patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder better.

The study has been funded by the Oxford Health Services Research Committee (OHSRC Ref 847)

The Mid and South Bucks Research Ethics Committee reviewed the study. For further information or any queries you can contact:
Dr A James
Highfield Adolescent unit,
Warneford Hospital,
Oxford, OX3 7JX
Tel: 01865 226285
Fax: 01865 226381

 

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