NCT07103902From ClinicalTrials.govRecruiting

Aerobic Exercise and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms

Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms and Cognitive Flexibility

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

At a glance

Phase: Phase not stated
Study type: Interventional
Sponsor: Yale University
Enrolment target: 50
Started: 16 February 2026
Main results due: 1 September 2027
Study sites: 1
Registry updated: 29 September 2026

Can you take part?

Ages 18 years to 64 years.
Open to any sex.
You need the condition being studied — healthy volunteers are not accepted.

These are the headline rules only. Every study has a longer list, and whether you are eligible is decided by the research team at the site — never by this page.

Read the full eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults, age 18 to 64 years
* Meet diagnostic criteria for OCD (per the DIAMOND)
* Stable psychiatric or medication treatment (if ≥4-weeks), or if no active treatment. Psychotropic medications will be reviewed with the study psychiatrist on a case by case basis.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active or unmanaged psychotic disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, bipolar disorder, current substance use disorder (moderate-to-severe), or high risk for suicide (defined as attempt, plan, or intent within past 3 months)
* Documented motor impairments and medical condition(s) that prohibit physical exercise
* Those who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant

What this study is about

In the sponsor’s own words, from the registry.

The purpose of this study is to examine the acute effects of exercise on cognitive flexibility and symptom reactivity. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does moderate intensity physical activity reduce subjective distress, compulsive urges, and intrusions- and increase cognitive flexibility- in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder compared to low-intensity physical activity?

Researchers will compare low- to moderate-intensity exercise to see if moderate physical activity increases cognitive flexibility and reduces symptom reactivity in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Participants will:

Complete self-report surveys, psychiatric interviews, and cognitive tasks.

Be assigned to either a low- or moderate-intensity exercise condition and complete physical activity.

Repeat cognitive and symptom measures following the exercise intervention.

Study sites(1)

Temple Medical Center
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Recruiting

Showing 1 of 1 sites. 1 of the 1 site on this study is recruiting right now — a site can stop enrolling while the study as a whole is still open.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT07103902. Trialion does not run this study, is not paid to refer anyone to it, and cannot enrol you. Eligibility is always decided by the research team at the site.

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