Inclusion Criteria:
1. ≥ 22 years and ≤ 75 years of age, at the time of screening
2. Chronic (\> five years preceding the date of enrollment) OCD, diagnosed as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition guidelines (DSM-5)
1. Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both
2. Time-consuming obsessions and compulsions that take more than one hour a day or cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
3. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms that are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition
4. Disturbance not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder listed in the DSM-5
3. Severe OCD symptoms, as defined by Y-BOCS I score of ≥ 28, within two weeks prior to enrollment
4. Lack of adequate response to a history of the following treatments, based on information from any of the following: (a) the current treating physician and/or psychologist; (b) medical records or other forms of communication from previous healthcare providers; and (c) pharmacy records, as determined by the PI
1. Adequate trial of ≥ 2 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for an adequate duration at the maximum dose recommended for OCD or at the maximally- tolerated dose according to the FDA-approved package labeling
2. Adequate trial of ≥ 1 augmentation trial using an antipsychotic medication
3. Adequate trial of clomipramine, either as monotherapy or as an augmentation therapy, unless medically contradicted
4. Adequate trials of cognitive behavior therapy-based Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
5. Willingness and ability to remain on the same daily dose of any and all scheduled psychotropic medication(s) for at least eight weeks prior to study enrollment and for the duration of the trial, as determined by the research/study psychiatrist and the PI
6. Willingness and ability to discontinue or refrain from initiating ERP therapy until the maintenance stage, if any, as determined safe by the research/study psychiatrist
7. Study participation in the prospective subject's best psychiatric interest, as determined by the research/study psychiatrist and based on a comprehensive assessment that includes the following: (a) detailed psychiatric history; (b) examination of the mental status; (c) review of psychiatric assessment measures obtained to determine eligibility, as applicable; (d) review of previous medical records for a minimum of two years prior to enrollment, or as applicable; and (e) consideration of the potential benefits versus risks of study participation
8. Agreement to being evaluated by a licensed psychiatrist and/or psychologist at regular intervals, as required by the schedule of events, for the duration of study participation
9. Living within six hours of driving distance from study sites and no plan of relocation for at least the duration of the trial (approximately 18-24 months), as reported by the prospective subject or a family member
10. Adequate social support, including but not limited to, stable housing and two family members and/or friends, who are identified as verifiable emergency contacts
11. Willingness and ability to provide at least two verifiable contacts for emergency purposes and to permit verification of emergency contacts by research staff before all study visits and as needed, at the discretion of the PI
12. Ability to understand procedure-related instructions and to complete study assessments in English, in the opinion of the PI
13. Willingness and ability to comply with protocol requirements (e.g., procedure visits, treatment schedule, follow-up visit schedule, evaluations, etc.), in the opinion of the PI
14. Willingness and ability to provide written agreement to allow any and all forms of communication between the research team and treating clinician(s)
15. Willingness and ability to provide informed consent, in the opinion of the PI
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Diagnosis of, according to the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), any other primary psychiatric diagnosis defined in the DSM-5, including Hoarding Disorder.
a. Subjects with secondary psychiatric diagnosis will not be excluded, except as described below.
2. In the opinion of the PI and relative to the date of enrollment, (a) current or past diagnosis of, or medical history/records suggestive of, a DSM-5 defined Personality Disorder, considered to be severe; or (b) history of hospitalization because of Borderline Personality Disorder
3. Clinical secondary diagnosis made by a psychiatrist, as defined in the DSM-5 and based on the MINI and the psychiatric evaluation:
a. Lifetime diagnosis of Bipolar I Disorder or Bipolar II Disorder b. Current/active diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or Binge Eating Disorder i. Diagnosis will be considered current/active if the subject had an active episode within five years of screening.
c. Lifetime diagnosis of a primary psychotic disorder (e.g. Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder) d. Current/active diagnosis of mood disorder with psychotic features i. Diagnosis will be considered current/active if the subject had an active episode within two years of screening.
4. Acute suicide risk considered significant by any of the following criteria:
1. High suicide risk, as determined by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) along with clinician assessment; or
2. A suicide attempt within the past twelve months that led to hospitalization; or
3. Suicide risk that, in the investigator's clinical judgment, necessitates inpatient treatment based on the individual's history and current condition.
5. Treatment, within two years of screening, for any of the following: dependency on, addiction to, use of, abuse of, or overuse of any illicit substance(s), including alcohol, but not including nicotine or caffeine
6. History of head trauma associated with any of the following:
1. Loss of consciousness for \> five minutes
2. A residual effect(s) that failed to resolve completely at least one year prior to the date of screening
3. An abnormality on a neuroimaging study (MRI, CT Scan) that was/is attributable to the head trauma
4. \> 1 head injury within the past two years which were diagnosed as a concussion, concussive-type or traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to medical records or as reported by the prospective subject or a family member
7. Any of the following permanent implants:
1. Cardiac implant (e.g. pacemaker or any intracardiac lines, implanted neurostimulators, shunts)
2. Brain implant (e.g. intracranial implant, aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes)
3. Implanted medical pumps
8. Diathermy treatments requirement for any reason
9. Hearing loss that, in the opinion of the PI, an audiologist, or a treating physician, is likely to affect the subject's ability to comply with all of the requirements of the study or may affect the integrity of the study data
10. Any metal or metallic particles anywhere in the head, except in the inside of the mouth
11. Pregnancy, at the time of screening or during the course of the study (i.e. three years)
a. Acceptable methods of contraception include the following: i. Established use of oral, injected or implanted contraceptives ii. Placement of an intrauterine device (IUD) or an intrauterine system (IUS) iii. Female sterilization (e.g. surgical bilateral oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy, total hysterectomy, tubal ligation) iv. Male sterilization, with the appropriate post-vasectomy documentation of the absence of sperm in the ejaculate v. True abstinence, when in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject b. Barrier methods of contraception, such as a condom, a diaphragm, or cervical/vault caps with spermicidal foam/gel/film/cream/suppository, and rhythm methods of contraception, although encouraged, alone are not considered acceptable forms or contraception.
12. History of involuntary movements, in the opinion of the PI or a neuro-radiologist
13. History of excessive or prolonged bleeding and/or any of the following:
1. INR of \> 1.8
2. Prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of ≥ 45 sec
3. Platelet count of \< 100×100/L
14. Allergy to gadolinium
15. Inability to safely and successfully undergo an MRI or a CT Scan
16. Any past or present medical condition, disease, disorder, or injury that, in the opinion of the PI, may reduce or hinder the subject's ability to fully comply with all study requirements for the duration of the study or may impact, compromise, or affect the integrity of the data or the results of the study
17. Current participation in other research that may potentially interfere with DBS study objectives or with the ability to follow the timeline of this study, as determined by the PI.
