Combined CBM For Social Anxiety in Turkey

Phobia, Social Clinical Trial

Official title: Combined Cognitive Bias Modification for Social Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

In this study, it was examined whether or not combined attentional and interpretational bias modifications with university students who display social anxiety symptoms may lead to a decrease in social anxiety-related complaints. The study was conducted with 84 participants who were university students displaying social anxiety symptoms. The participants were randomly assigned into two conditions; cognitive bias modification group (E) and placebo-control group (C). Participants in group-E were subjected to attentional and interpretational bias modifications twice a week, eight sessions in total. Participants in group-C were subjected to a similar process, but without any modification. The levels of social anxiety, anxiety, depression, nonfunctional thinking of the participants were evaluated three times; just before the first session, just after the last session and two months after the last session. In addition, levels of attentional and interpretational bias of the participants were evaluated twice, just before the first session and just after the last session.

Clinical Trial Description

A 2 (group: experimental, control) × 3 (time: pretest, posttest, follow-up) experimental design was employed. All participants were presented with informed consent form beforehand, and also verbally informed about the procedure. They were assigned to experimental (E) or attention placebo control (C) groups for 2 sessions per week, 8 sessions in total. Before the first session (pretest) and after the last session (posttest), participants were asked to answer self-report questionnaires, and their attentional and interpretational biases were assessed. And finally, participants were asked only to answer to the same questionnaires for the follow up measurements after two months.

Chi square test and independent t-test for dependent variables were run beforehand to check if participants were equally distributed to Bias Modification group-E and group-C. No statistically significant difference between group-E and group-C was observed with regards to gender distribution, social anxiety, anxiety, depression, dysfunctional thoughts, automatic thoughts, and attentional and interpretational biases.

To see the effect of 8 sessions of manipulation on attentional and interpretational bias (independent variable) created a significant difference between experimental and control groups, 2 (group: experimental [E] and control [C]) × 3 (time: pre [t1] / post [t2] / follow-up [t3]) mixed ANOVA was conducted for each dependent variable in self-report measurements, and 2 (group: experimental [E] and control [C]) × 2 (time: pre [t1] / post [t2]) mixed ANOVA were conducted for attentional and interpretational biases. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Phobia, Social

• NCT number: NCT03630783
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: March 2015
• Completion date: June 2016