Augmentation Study of A Computerized Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Anxiety, Healthy Studies, Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology, Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 65 |
| Updated: | 4/21/2016 |
| Start Date: | February 2015 |
| End Date: | December 2016 |
| Contact: | Michael D Lee, B.S. |
| Email: | Michael.D.Lee@utexas.edu |
| Phone: | (925) 216-5728 |
Augmenting Interpretative Cognitive Bias Modification Using Memory Reconsolidation Updating
The purpose of this study is to determine whether briefly reactivating a fear memory 20
minutes prior to administering a social anxiety treatment will enhance the durability of
treatment effects.
minutes prior to administering a social anxiety treatment will enhance the durability of
treatment effects.
This study examines whether cognitive bias modification of interpretation (CBM-I) for
socially anxious individuals can be augmented with the inclusion of a fear memory
reactivation prior to administration of CBM. To date, CBM-I generally involves presenting
participants with short vignettes that have ambiguous meaning. The ambiguity is resolved by
having the subject complete a word stem at the conclusion of the paragraph, resolving the
ambiguity in a positive/negative/neutral fashion. CBM attempts to retrain the tendency for
socially phobic individuals to adopt negative interpretations of ambiguous events by
repeatedly presenting trials resolving in a positive fashion. An inert control can be
administered by having the majority of CBM trials resolve in a neutral fashion, without
having the vignette end in either a positive or negative fashion.
Reactivating a fear memory, followed by a short break, purportedly opens a window of several
hours during which the fear memory is rendered labile, and so CBM given during this time
should show greater durability of effects. However, manipulations given outside of this
timeframe will presumably have no increased effects. Individuals exhibiting clinical levels
of social anxiety, as measured with the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria, will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions:
(1) fear reactivation administered 20 minutes prior to CBM, (2) fear reactivation
administered 12-36 hours prior to CBM, and (3) fear reactivation administered 12-36 hours
prior to an inert form of CBM. A variety of measures measuring anxiety, interpretation bias,
and cognitions will be repeatedly assessed across the study, including at pretreatment, post
treatment, and at one and two week follow up. Additionally, several potential moderators of
treatment outcome will be assessed prior to engaging in treatment. At two week follow up,
participants will also be given a speech stressor task to determine its effect on subsequent
interpretation bias.
socially anxious individuals can be augmented with the inclusion of a fear memory
reactivation prior to administration of CBM. To date, CBM-I generally involves presenting
participants with short vignettes that have ambiguous meaning. The ambiguity is resolved by
having the subject complete a word stem at the conclusion of the paragraph, resolving the
ambiguity in a positive/negative/neutral fashion. CBM attempts to retrain the tendency for
socially phobic individuals to adopt negative interpretations of ambiguous events by
repeatedly presenting trials resolving in a positive fashion. An inert control can be
administered by having the majority of CBM trials resolve in a neutral fashion, without
having the vignette end in either a positive or negative fashion.
Reactivating a fear memory, followed by a short break, purportedly opens a window of several
hours during which the fear memory is rendered labile, and so CBM given during this time
should show greater durability of effects. However, manipulations given outside of this
timeframe will presumably have no increased effects. Individuals exhibiting clinical levels
of social anxiety, as measured with the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria, will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions:
(1) fear reactivation administered 20 minutes prior to CBM, (2) fear reactivation
administered 12-36 hours prior to CBM, and (3) fear reactivation administered 12-36 hours
prior to an inert form of CBM. A variety of measures measuring anxiety, interpretation bias,
and cognitions will be repeatedly assessed across the study, including at pretreatment, post
treatment, and at one and two week follow up. Additionally, several potential moderators of
treatment outcome will be assessed prior to engaging in treatment. At two week follow up,
participants will also be given a speech stressor task to determine its effect on subsequent
interpretation bias.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Ages 18-65
- Meets DSM-5 criteria for current Social Anxiety Disorder as measured by the ADIS-5
- Score of 30 or above on LSAS
Exclusion Criteria:
- Receiving any form of anxiety medication or psychotherapy for anxiety during the past
3 months
- Scoring above a "1" on item 9 of the BDI-II (presence of serious suicidal ideation)
We found this trial at
1
site
Austin, Texas 78712
Phone: 925-216-5728
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