Efficacy of Nitrous Oxide in OCD: Pilot Study

Stanford University

Status and phase: Enrolling; Phase 2

Conditions: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Treatments: Drug: Nitrous Oxide; Drug: Nitrogen

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03826693

48077

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study investigates whether the commonly used and well-tolerated inhaled anesthetic nitrous oxide can rapidly improve symptoms of OCD.

Full description

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and disabling disorder characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts and associated compulsive behaviors that is estimated to affect more than 3 million individuals in the US each year.

This study seeks to explore whether a single inhalation of nitrous oxide gas may bring about rapid symptom relief in OCD.

Enrollment: 45 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-65
• Primary diagnosis of OCD
• Sufficient severity of OCD symptoms
• Ability to tolerate a treatment-free period
• Capacity to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Psychiatric or medical conditions that make participation unsafe
• Pregnant or nursing females
• Concurrent use of any medications that might increase the risk of participation (e.g. drug interactions)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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45 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Experimental: Nitrous Oxide

Experimental group

Description:

OCD participants in this arm will receive 50%oxygen/50% nitrous oxide admixture for 60 minutes.

Treatment:

Drug: Nitrous Oxide

Control: Nitrogen

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

OCD participants in this arm will receive 50%oxygen/50% nitrogen admixture for 60 minutes.

Treatment:

Drug: Nitrogen