Fear Learning in Naturally Cycling Women with OCD

29 Jun Fear Learning in Naturally Cycling Women with OCD

This study investigates brain response differences in fear learning in adult women at different phases of their menstrual cycle, in both healthy control and OCD groups. This is an in-person study located at Kincaid Hall at the University of Washington.

This study will last approximately 3-4 hours over two consecutive days, 2-3 hours on day one and 0.5-1 hours on day two. You will complete a task while undergoing an MRI scan which involves viewing stimuli paired with a mild electric shock to the wrist. You will then complete some questionnaires about your physical and mental health history, mood, and demographic information.

If you are interested in seeing if you are eligible for the study, you may complete our pre-screening survey on RedCap here: https://redcap.iths.org/surveys/?s=E7NMC9KRM7MLJW9R

Participant Eligibility

1. Not currently pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
2. Having regular menstrual cycles (between 25-35 days on average)
3. No current hormonal contraception use or hormonal replacement therapy
5. Not currently receiving Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targeting OCD
6. No current or lifetime diagnosis of a psychotic disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar I disorder)
7. No current use of any psychotropic medication (other than a stable dose of SSRI or SNRI)
8. No treatment for neurological, endocrine, or psychiatric disorder within the past year
9. No history of seizures, heart conditions, neurological disorder, neurosurgical procedure, or traumatic brain injury
10. No color blindness
11. No current regular use of cigarette, e-cigarette, cannabis, or illegal drug use (assessed by urine drug screen and self-report survey)
12. Ability to complete MRI scan (no positive MR screen, e.g. metal in the head or metal injury to the eyes; signs of increased intracranial pressure; implanted pacemaker, medication pump, vagal stimulator, deep brain stimulator, TENS unit, or ventriculo-peritoneal shunt)

Contact

Emily Iannazzi
(206) 221-1278