Efficacy of Nitrous Oxide in OCD: Pilot Study

NCT ID: NCT03826693

Last Updated: 2025-08-27

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

45 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-04-17

Study Completion Date

2027-10-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

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

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

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.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

placebo-controlled 2:1 randomized clinical trial.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Experimental: Nitrous Oxide

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

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Nitrous Oxide

Intervention Type DRUG

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

Control: Nitrogen

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

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Nitrogen

Intervention Type DRUG

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

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Nitrous Oxide

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

Intervention Type DRUG

Nitrogen

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

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

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)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Stanford University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Peter J van Roessel, MD PhD

Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Peter J van Roessel, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Stanford Univeristy

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Stanford University

Stanford, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Pavithra Mukunda, MS

Role: CONTACT

650-723-4095

Sindu Menon, MBBS

Role: CONTACT

650-723-4095

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Pavithra Makunda, MS

Role: primary

650-723-4095

Sindu Menon, MBBS

Role: backup

650-723-4095

Related Links

Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

48077

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Brief Intervention for OCD Fears
NCT02790710 WITHDRAWN PHASE4
Cannabinoid Medication for Adults With OCD
NCT02911324 COMPLETED PHASE1/PHASE2
Oxytocin Administration in BDD and OCD
NCT02671266 COMPLETED PHASE2