Hormone hacks: could your period make OCD therapy work better?

NCT ID NCT05359562

Recruiting now Knowledge-focused Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 23, 2026 · Updated 4 times

Summary

This study looks at whether giving exposure therapy for OCD at different times in a woman's menstrual cycle changes how well it works. Researchers will use brain scans to see if hormones affect the brain's fear network and OCD symptoms. The goal is to find the best time in the cycle for therapy, potentially making treatment more effective.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP) therapy
What this could lead to: If successful, this could show that timing OCD therapy with certain menstrual phases improves treatment outcomes, leading to more personalized care.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage observational study with only 120 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The therapy itself is well-established, but hormonal effects on treatment response are still uncertain.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

obsessive-compulsive disorder obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

OCD

Contacts and locations

Locations

New York State Psychiatric Institute
RECRUITING

New York, New York, 10032, United States
University of Pennsylvania
RECRUITING

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

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