Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined With Exposure and Response Prevention in the Treatment of Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

September 4, 2026 updated by: Jue CHEN, Shanghai Mental Health Center
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a chronic and disabling mental disorder. Among them, 40-60% of obsessive-compulsive disorder patients do not respond to the current first-line drug treatment and/or psychological therapy. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder has unique advantages. Acupuncture, as a traditional Chinese treatment technique, has been increasingly applied in the treatment of mental disorders such as insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) can replace acupuncture. With equivalent effects, it can reduce pain and fear and is a non-invasive, safe, and time-saving physical intervention method. TEAS combined with exposure and response prevention therapy may have an additive effect in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. We will conduct a prospective randomized design to explore the integrated and optimized treatment plan of traditional Chinese and Western medicine for obsessive-compulsive disorder, improve the treatment efficiency, and reduce the proportion of chronic patients.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
90

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • China
      • Shanghai, China
        • Shanghai Mental Health
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age: 18 - 50 years old, gender not restricted;
  2. Meets the diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder as per the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5);
  3. Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale score ≥ 16 points;
  4. Has never taken medication or is currently taking medication with a stable dosage for 8 weeks or more;
  5. Has a junior high school education or above;
  6. Has signed the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Meets the diagnosis criteria in DSM-5 except for obsessive-compulsive disorder (excluding obsessive-compulsive personality disorder);
  2. Has severe obsessive symptoms that prevent the patient from completing the required assessment tests;
  3. Has a history of brain injury or surgery, or has an implanted cardiac pacemaker or other metal device in the body;
  4. Pregnant or planning to become pregnant women, breastfeeding women;
  5. Substance abusers within the past year;
  6. Have severe negative thoughts or a high risk of suicide;
  7. Other conditions deemed unsuitable for inclusion by the researchers.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: ERP+TEAS treatment group
ERP+TEAS treatment group has 45 OCD patients.Each patient receives 16 sessions of ERP for 50 minutes. TEAS procedure is truly exciting and is carried out simultaneously with ERP. The targeted stimulation points are the bilateral Neiguan acupoints.
Behavioral: Exposure and Response Prevention
The first one is to establish the therapeutic relationship, mainly aimed at discussing the changes that the upcoming treatment can bring to the patient, helping the patient understand that their obsessive-compulsive symptoms are mainly due to their dysfunctional evaluation system and helping them understand the reasons for the gradual increase in their obsessive behaviors. Normalization of anxiety and the analysis of the pros and cons of anxiety lay the groundwork for the next exposure therapy. The therapist also needs to help the patient understand and accept the next TEAS synchronous ERP treatment. In the last treatment, the therapist should summarize the treatment process with the patient. In addition, the therapist needs to understand the patient's feedback on the treatment, consolidate the achieved treatment effects, and jointly discuss the prevention of recurrence with the patient.
Device: Active Transcutaneous Acupoint Electrical Stimulation
The acupoints stimulated are bilateral Neiguan points. The stimulation positioning is based on the "National Standard of the People's Republic of China · Acupoint Names and Locations" [GB/T 12346-2021] (2021). The stimulation frequency is 50Hz, and the pulse width can change with the frequency. The pulse amplitude (0-100 mA) is titrated to a "strong but comfortable" sensation level. The ERP treatment lasts for 8 weeks, twice a week, for a total of 16 sessions, all of which are TEAS synchronized with ERP treatment. Each treatment lasts for 50 minutes, with the first 20 minutes being the therapist's theoretical explanation, and the last 30 minutes being exposure practice. The TEAS stimulation starts simultaneously with the patient's exposure practice, and the stimulation duration is also 30 minutes.
Sham Comparator: ERP+sham-stimulation group
ERP+sham-stimulation group has 45 patients.Each patient receives 16 sessions of ERP for 50 minutes. TEAS intervention uses sham coils and is carried out simultaneously with ERP. The targeted stimulation points are the bilateral Neiguan acupoints.
Behavioral: Exposure and Response Prevention
The first one is to establish the therapeutic relationship, mainly aimed at discussing the changes that the upcoming treatment can bring to the patient, helping the patient understand that their obsessive-compulsive symptoms are mainly due to their dysfunctional evaluation system and helping them understand the reasons for the gradual increase in their obsessive behaviors. Normalization of anxiety and the analysis of the pros and cons of anxiety lay the groundwork for the next exposure therapy. The therapist also needs to help the patient understand and accept the next TEAS synchronous ERP treatment. In the last treatment, the therapist should summarize the treatment process with the patient. In addition, the therapist needs to understand the patient's feedback on the treatment, consolidate the achieved treatment effects, and jointly discuss the prevention of recurrence with the patient.
Device: Sham Transcutaneous Acupoint Electrical Stimulation
A transient placebo-tens simulation stimulation was adopted. A bonding electrode pad was placed 1 cm radially from the Neiguan acupoint. The stimulation intensity was adjusted to the minimum sensory threshold for 30 seconds, then gradually reduced over the next 15 seconds, making the stimulation active for a total of 45 seconds. This ensured that no current was transmitted to the electrode pad while maintaining the blinding condition.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The reduction rate of the Yale Brown Depression Scale
Time Frame: week 0（baseline）, week 8（post-intervention）, week12 (follow-up）
Calculation: Baseline YBCOS total score - Follow-up YBOCS total score / Baseline YBCOS total score.A deduction rate of 35% or higher is considered valid.
week 0（baseline）, week 8（post-intervention）, week12 (follow-up）

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The reduction rate of the BDI-II
Time Frame: week 0（baseline）, week 8（post-intervention）, week12（follow-up）

BDI-II：It consists of 21 items, used to assess the severity of each depressive symptom. Each item is divided into four levels ranging from 0 to 3. The total score of the scale is the sum of the scores of the 21 items. The BDI-II is one of the most widely used self-rating depression scales at present. The Chinese version was introduced by this research group and its reliability and validity were evaluated.

Calculation: Baseline BDI total score - Follow-up BDI total score / Baseline BDI total score. A reduction rate of 50% or higher is considered valid.
week 0（baseline）, week 8（post-intervention）, week12（follow-up）
The reduction rate of BAI
Time Frame: Time Frame: week 0（baseline）, week 8（post-intervention）, week12（follow-up）

BAI：It consists of 21 items, each of which is divided into 0-3 levels, and is used for self-assessment of individual anxiety symptoms. The total score is the sum of the scores of each item, and the possible score range is 0 to 63 points. The higher the score, the more severe the anxiety symptoms. This scale has good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Its Chinese version has similar reliability and validity to the original version.

Calculation: Baseline BAI total score - Follow-up BAI total score / Baseline BAI total score. A reduction rate of 50% or higher is considered valid.
Time Frame: week 0（baseline）, week 8（post-intervention）, week12（follow-up）

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Shanghai Mental Health Center

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jue Chen, Shanghai Mental Health Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 7, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 4, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2026-OCD67

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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