Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent mental health concern that impacts approximately 12% of the population. One mechanism thought to maintain SAD is avoidance of faces (i.e. avoidance of negative evaluative threat). However, research on attentional processes in SAD has been confined to paradigms presented on computer monitors. To investigate attentional processes in a more naturalistic way the investigators developed an immersive, 360º-video virtual reality environment using real actors, as part of a pilot study. Participants with a range of social anxiety symptoms (from none to severe) completed a 5-minute speech in this virtual reality environment while their eye movements were recorded. Results from the study showed that greater symptoms of social anxiety were associated with avoidance of looking at faces (i.e. fewer fixations on faces). While existing treatments for SAD are moderately effective, a large number of individuals do not experience meaningful reductions in their symptoms. The overarching goal of this project is inform future treatment research for SAD. The investigators will test a brief attention guidance intervention for SAD that specifically targets avoidance of faces as a potential mechanism maintaining the disorder. The proposed research will use the eye tracking hardware and naturalistic virtual reality environment from the pilot study. The investigators will also collect eye tracking data prior to the intervention in order to investigate potential heterogeneity in the attentional processes of SAD. The investigators will test the hypotheses that (a) the attention guidance intervention, compared to the control intervention, will result in a greater reduction in symptoms of social anxiety, and (b) this effect will be mediated by the number of fixations on faces during a brief public speaking challenge following the intervention. These results will provide causal evidence related to a hypothesized mechanism maintaining SAD.


Clinical Trial Description

n/a


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT03683823
Study type Interventional
Source University of Texas at Austin
Contact
Status Terminated
Phase N/A
Start date February 1, 2019
Completion date March 25, 2020

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Not yet recruiting NCT06274112 - Using TMS to Understand Neural Processes of Social Motivation N/A
Completed NCT02554929 - Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder and Selective Mutism N/A
Completed NCT00684541 - Interpretation Modification Program for Social Phobia N/A
Completed NCT00684320 - Attention Disengagement Training for Social Phobia N/A
Completed NCT03247075 - Internet-delivered CBT vs Internet-delivered Support and Counseling for Youth With Social Anxiety Disorder - An RCT N/A
Completed NCT02811458 - Clinical Trial of Transdiagnostic Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Anxiety Disorders N/A
Withdrawn NCT04622930 - Waitlist-Control Trial of Smartphone CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT05018312 - Modified Collaborative Assessment VS Standard Assessment on Readiness For Psychotherapy Among Patients With Anxiety N/A
Completed NCT05858294 - The Safety, Acceptability and Efficacy of Alena N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT05600114 - Cannabidiol (CBD) for the Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder Phase 2
Not yet recruiting NCT06081348 - Sertraline vs. Placebo in the Treatment of Anxiety in Children and AdoLescents With NeurodevelopMental Disorders Phase 2
Not yet recruiting NCT02924610 - Brief Intervention to Reduce Fear Phase 4
Active, not recruiting NCT02592564 - Brain Plasticity and Cellular Aging After Internet-delivered CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder N/A
Recruiting NCT02305537 - Building an Outcomes Assessment Infrastructure to Assess Anxiety Treatment N/A
Terminated NCT03764644 - Web-based Attention Bias Modification Treatment for Childhood Anxiety Disorders N/A
Unknown status NCT01712321 - Study of Vilazodone to Treat Social Anxiety Disorder N/A
Completed NCT01320800 - CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder Delivered by School Counselors Phase 2
Completed NCT00773162 - Flushing in Social Anxiety Disorder on Seroquel Phase 3
Completed NCT00485615 - An Open Label Trial of Omega 3(o3mega+Joy)in the Treatment of Social Phobia Phase 2
Completed NCT00872820 - Examining Long-Term Effects and Neural Mediators of Behavioral Treatments for Social Anxiety Disorder N/A