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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00183625

Supported Employment and Skills Training in Conjunction With Pharmacotherapy in Schizophrenia Patients

This study will compare employment support with behavioral skills training to employment support alone in schizophrenia patients taking either risperidone or olanzapine to determine which is more effective in helping the patients maintain a job.

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Key information

Conditions

Schizophrenia Mental Disorders Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

West Los Angeles Veterans Healthcare Center, Los Angeles, California, United States

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About this study

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by disorganized thoughts, difficulty concentrating, and hallucinations. Individuals with schizophrenia often experience reduced emotional, social, and occupational functioning. Data indicate that antipsychotic drug treatment and occupational training and support may be effective in helping people with schizophrenia maintain a stable job. Risperidone and olanzapine are antipsychotic drugs; participants in this study will be taking either risperidone or olanzapine for the duration of the study. This study will provide schizophrenia patients with employment support alone or with behavioral skills training to determine which combination is more effective in helping patients obtain and maintain a job.

At study entry, participants will undergo a clinical and diagnostic evaluation to determine the severity of their schizophrenia. Participants will be tapered off their regular medication for schizophrenia over 4 weeks. At the end of Week 4, they will be randomly assigned to receive either risperidone or olanzapine. Participants will then be assigned an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) specialist to assist them in finding a job. After participants secure a job, they will be randomly assigned to receive IPS either alone or with the Workplace Fundamentals Skills Training Module for 2 years. Participants' risperidone or olanzapine treatment will continue during this 2-year period. Participants will have clinic visits at study entry and Months 7, 12, and 24. At each visit, participants will complete questionnaires and will be interviewed about their schizophrenia symptoms and occupational functioning.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of schizophrenia
  • Candidate for maintenance schizophrenia treatment
  • Willing to initiate and continue risperidone or olanzapine therapy for the duration of the study

Exclusion criteria

  • Any serious medical problems other than schizophrenia that would interfere with the study

Treatment and study plan

Individual Placement and Support (Supported Employment)

Behavioral

Social Skills Training

Behavioral

Olanzapine

Drug

Risperidone

Drug

Primary outcomes

  1. Total Weeks Worked

    Time frame: 24 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Body Mass Index

    Time frame: First 18 months of study

    Intent was to compare medication and not work group conditions. This was initially assessed at baseline and includes total time on either risperidone or olanzapine up to 18 months.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, Los Angeles

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • US Department of Veterans Affairs

Registry information

Official study title

The Effectiveness of Supplementing Supported Employment With Behavioral Skills Training

Important dates

Study start
2000
Primary completion
2005
Study completion
2006
First posted
Sep 16, 2005
Registry last updated
Feb 9, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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