Challenges and Strategies for the Recruitment of Patients With Schizophrenia in a Research Setting

With numerous potentially novel targets and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for schizophrenia entering late-stage testing, the next decade will bring an urgent need for well-conducted clinical trials. A critically important step for the successful execution of clinical research trials is timely and appropriate recruitment of participants. Patients with schizophrenia can be especially challenging to recruit because of the disability inherent in psychotic spectrum disorders. Research on how best to recruit for clinical trials is understudied. Clearly defining a model for recruitment procedures would be valuable for researchers and, by extension, the patient populations that may benefit from the insight gained by future clinical research.

This article aims to offer suggestions for recruitment based on years of experience at the Columbia Schizophrenia Research Clinic (CSRC), a hub for clinical trials focusing on the etiology and treatment of various psychotic disorders.

The present report provides practical, step-by-step recommendations for implementing the highly effective CSRC recruitment model, including the benefits of 2 recruitment initiatives that were instituted in 2018: hiring a dedicated recruiter and targeted chart reviews at affiliated clinics. Other topics discussed include our umbrella protocol and database, advertising, and tips for collaborating with external sites.

Despite ongoing complications from coronavirus disease 2019, these strategies have been successful, increasing the rate of both consents and study enrollments by approximately 40% and enabling the CSRC to conduct multiple studies simultaneously.