Helping Adults With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Succeed at Work

NCT ID: NCT07124780

Last Updated: 2025-11-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2027-08-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare two models of employment services for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) interested in finding and maintaining employment. All 40 participants will receive up to 12 sessions of the first-line treatment for OCD called exposure and response prevention, a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Assigned by chance, half of the people will also receive Individual Placement and Support (IPS); the other half will receive standard vocational services (SVS). This study will compare these two approaches for helping adults with OCD find and maintain work.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to compare two models of employment services for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) interested in finding and maintaining employment. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), we will compare the work and clinical outcomes of individuals with OCD (n=20) who receive CBT plus standard vocational services (SVS) to those who receive this same course of CBT but who also receive Individual Placement and Support (IPS) (n=20). Work and clinical outcomes will be measured before starting CBT, at the end of CBT treatment, and at 6, 9, and 12-month time points.

Conditions

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Standard Vocational Services plus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for OCD

Standard vocational services includes support in finding employment with support from the American Jobs Center over 12 months. Cognitive Behavior Therapy for OCD consists of a standard course of exposure and response prevention over 12 weeks, followed by monthly maintenance sessions for 12 months.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard Vocational Services

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

In Standard Vocational Services, participants will meet with a representative from the American Jobs Center (AJC) who will help them find a job by identifying their interests, assess their skills and abilities, and advise them on in-demand jobs and potential training opportunities.

Individual Placement and Support plus Cognitive Behavior Therapy for OCD

Individual Placement and Support includes support in finding employment with support from an IPS employment specialist over 12 months. Cognitive Behavior Therapy for OCD consists of a standard course of exposure and response prevention over 12 weeks, followed by monthly maintenance sessions for 12 months.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Individual Placement and Support is an evidence-based model of supported employment for individuals with mental illness. In IPS, participants will meet with an IPS specialist weekly who will help the study participant create resumes, conduct job searches online or in the community, complete job applications, role-play interviews, and, if requested, accompany them when visiting prospective employers.

Interventions

Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

Individual Placement and Support is an evidence-based model of supported employment for individuals with mental illness. In IPS, participants will meet with an IPS specialist weekly who will help the study participant create resumes, conduct job searches online or in the community, complete job applications, role-play interviews, and, if requested, accompany them when visiting prospective employers.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Standard Vocational Services

In Standard Vocational Services, participants will meet with a representative from the American Jobs Center (AJC) who will help them find a job by identifying their interests, assess their skills and abilities, and advise them on in-demand jobs and potential training opportunities.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

IPS; SVS

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Primary diagnosis of OCD
• Currently unemployed and interested in finding competitive employment
• For those currently on medication: On a stable dose of psychiatric medication and willing to remain on this dose for the duration 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
• Reside outside of New York State

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

New York State Psychiatric Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Sapana Patel

Associate Professor of Medical Psychology

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Sapana R Patel, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The New York State Psychiatric Institute

Blair Simpson, MD, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The New York State Psychiatric Institute

Central Contacts

Sapana R. Patel, Ph.D.

Role: CONTACT

sapana.patel@nyspi.columbia.edu

646-774-8491

Blair Simpson, M.D., Ph.D.

Role: CONTACT

646-774-8110

Related Links

https://www.naric.com/pd-srch-results-rec?search_type=&officer_type=&record_id=4155&load_source=&search_id=469536&start_rec=0&user_name=public.user.929879&load_form=&drill_down=1&filter_id=873

Link to study abstract on National Rehabilitation Information Center

Other Identifiers

90IFRE0091

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

NYSPI2025-79

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id