Helping adults with OCD find and keep employment
Official title: Helping Adults With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Succeed at Work
Run by New York State Psychiatric Institute · NCT07124780 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will test whether adding Individual Placement and Support (IPS) to standard vocational help helps unemployed adults with OCD who are getting CBT find and maintain competitive work.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | New York State Psychiatric Institute Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (New York, New York) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 12, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 2027 |
| Study ends | August 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 31, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07124780 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Unemployed adults living in New York State with a primary diagnosis of OCD who want competitive employment and are not already receiving supported employment services are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People who are already employed, already receiving supported employment, have active suicidality, untreated substance use problems, or comorbid conditions that raise safety risks may not benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will enroll 40 adults with a primary diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder who are currently unemployed and seeking competitive employment in New York State. All participants receive up to 12 sessions of exposure and response prevention, a form of CBT for OCD, and are then randomly assigned to receive either Individual Placement and Support (IPS) or standard vocational services (SVS). Work and clinical outcomes are measured at baseline, at the end of CBT, and at 6, 9, and 12 months to compare job attainment and job maintenance between groups. The trial is conducted at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and focuses on practical employment outcomes alongside symptom measures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding IPS could help people with OCD more reliably find and keep competitive jobs when combined with CBT.
How similar studies have gone: IPS has strong evidence for improving employment outcomes in other serious mental illnesses, but applying IPS specifically to OCD is relatively new and has limited prior evidence.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Currently unemployed and interested in finding competitive employment in New York State * Currently residing in New York State * Primary diagnosis of OCD * For those currently on psychiatric medication: On a stable dose of psychiatric medication (for at least 6 weeks) and willing to remain on this dose for the first three months of CBT. * Access to the internet through a mobile device or computer Exclusion Criteria: * In the process of applying for or currently receiving disability benefits * Currently receiving supported employment services * Active suicidality or recent suicide attempt * Active substance use problem (other than nicotine) that warrants treatment * Comorbid psychiatric conditions that significantly elevate the risk of study participation such as psychotic disorders or bipolar disorder
Where it's running
-
The New York State Psychiatric Institute
New York, New York, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sapana R Patel, Ph.D. — The New York State Psychiatric Institute
- Study coordinator: Sapana R. Patel, Ph.D.
- Email: sapana.patel@nyspi.columbia.edu
- Phone: 646-774-8491
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Focused ultrasound for mood and anxiety disorders
This study tests whether repeated low-intensity focused ultrasound using the ATTN201 device can help people with subsyndromal to moderate depression, anxiety, or OCD.
-
Predicting Treatment Response in Psychiatric Disorders Using Biological Markers
This study tests whether biological markers can predict which patients with psychiatric conditions will respond to treatment.
-
Safety and feasibility of a next-generation dome helmet for neuromodulation in OCD
This study tests whether a new focused ultrasound helmet can safely help people with treatment-refractory OCD see if their symptoms improve.
-
Bergen Four-Day Treatment for OCD, in Finland
This trial tests whether the Bergen Four-Day Treatment for OCD can be implemented in Finnish psychiatric care to help people with OCD see if the intensive program works in a real-world setting.
-
Test different deep TMS coils and targets to treat OCD
This study tests whether different deep TMS coils and brain targets help reduce OCD symptoms in adults with OCD, using a double-blind setup with sham and active stimulation.
-
Role of theta brain waves in how kids control thoughts and actions
This study tests whether theta-frequency brain activity can reveal how children with ADHD or OCD, and healthy kids, manage thinking and behavior during tasks.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.