Deep Brain Sound Stimulation for 
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Precision Auditory Stimulation

Background: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects 1-2% of the global population, characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that impair daily functioning. Traditional treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and pharmacotherapy are effective but often limited by accessibility, cost, adherence challenges, and side effects.Objective: This study assesses the effectiveness and safety of Deep Brain Sound Stimulation (DBSS), a novel non-invasive auditory therapy, based on user-reported outcomes from individuals with OCD.Methods: We analyzed feedback from 219 users who completed DBSS therapy via the Vital Tones mobile application on the Apple App Store. Additionally, 14 participants provided detailed responses through in-app surveys evaluating symptom improvements in severity, cognitive control, and emotional regulation. Descriptive statistics were used to determine median effectiveness and satisfaction rates.Results: The therapy demonstrated a high user satisfaction rate of 99.09%, with a minimal refund rate of 0.91%. Survey respondents reported a median symptom improvement of 50% (95% CI: 22%–66%). DBSS was well-tolerated, with no severe side effects reported and only minor adverse effects in a small number of sessions.Conclusion: Preliminary findings indicate that DBSS is a promising non-invasive treatment for OCD, offering significant symptom improvement and high user satisfaction. However, the observational nature of the study, small survey sample, and reliance on self-reported data suggest that further controlled research is necessary to validate these results and establish DBSS's efficacy and safety.