JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An experimental new treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder may offer new hope for the one in 40 adults in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with the mental illness.
The National Institute of Mental Health says about 1.2 percent of the population suffers from OCD, but treatments that are currently available aren't always effective and often have unpleasant side effects for patients.
People who are 18 to 65 and have been diagnosed with OCD or think they may have OCD can apply to participate in Biohaven's research study testing the new drug.
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Researchers are studying a new drug made by Biohaven Pharmaceuticals that targets a brain chemical called glutamate as a potential alternative treatment for OCD.
Watch Action News Jax at 5:30 p.m. for Stephanie Stahl's report from Philadelphia.