Helping adults with OCD find and keep employment
Helping Adults With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Succeed at Work
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
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | New York State Psychiatric Institute Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (New York, New York) |
| Trial ID | NCT07124780 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
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.
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.
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 performed: 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.
Eligibility criteria
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. Exclusion Criteria: * 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
Where this trial is running
New York, New York
- 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.