Helping Adults With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Succeed at Work

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Treatments: Behavioral: Standard Vocational Services; Behavioral: Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07124780

90IFRE0091 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

NYSPI2025-79

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Standard Vocational Services plus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for OCD

Active Comparator group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard Vocational Services

Individual Placement and Support plus Cognitive Behavior Therapy for OCD

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Individual Placement and Support (IPS)