Attention Bias Modification Training for Social Phobia (ABMSP)

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MILWAUKEE · Sep 19, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new approach to help people with social anxiety disorder, which is a condition that makes it hard to interact with others due to fear of judgment or embarrassment. The trial is focused on a technique called Attention Bias Modification Training (ABMT), which aims to help participants shift their focus away from threatening or anxiety-inducing images and towards neutral ones. The researchers believe that enhancing this training could lead to better outcomes for those struggling with social anxiety.

To participate in this study, individuals need to be between 18 and 60 years old and have a formal diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, with moderate to severe symptoms. Participants will use a mobile app to complete the training over three weeks and will be randomly placed into either an active training group or a placebo group. The researchers will measure the effectiveness of the training by comparing participants' anxiety levels before and after the program. If you're interested and meet the criteria, this could be a great opportunity to try a new way to manage social anxiety.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (based on the DIAMOND interview - Social anxiety module)
• • Moderate or severe symptoms of social anxiety as revealed by the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS score of ≥ 40) or MINI-SPIN (Score of ≥ 6)
• • Ages 18-60
• • English as a primary language
• • Possession of a mobile device for access to the app (Inquisit 6)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Self-reported visual impairment that cannot be adjusted and will prevent them from clearly recognizing words and pictures on mobile screen
• • Self-reported history of a bipolar disorder or psychotic disorder