Efficacy of Attention Bias Modification vs. Placebo for Social Anxiety Disorder
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-65
SponsorTel Aviv University
About this trial
This study examines whether a computerized attention-training intervention called attention bias modification (ABM) can reduce symptoms of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in adults, and whether symptom improvement is specifically related to changes in attentional processing or to nonspecific factors such as expectancy and placebo effects.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Adults aged 18-65 years
Primary diagnosis of generalized Social Anxiety Disorder based on clinical evaluation, the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), and a Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) score greater than 50
Normal or corrected-to-normal vision without color blindness
Sufficient Hebrew proficiency to complete clinical interviews, self-report questionnaires, and computerized cognitive tasks
Disqualifiers
Previous participation in attention bias modification training using a dot-probe task
Previous participation in eye-tracking-based attention training
Current diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Current or past diagnosis of psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Dot-Probe Attention Bias Modification (ABM)
BehavioralParticipants complete a computerized dot-probe attention training task designed to train attention away from threat-related stimuli. During each trial, angry and neutral facial expressions are presented simultaneously, followed by a probe that consistently appears in the location of the neutral face. Participants complete eight training sessions over four weeks.
Placebo Training
BehavioralParticipants complete a computerized task matched to the active training condition in duration, structure, and task demands, but without exposure to emotional stimuli or attentional training contingencies. The task is designed to control for nonspecific factors such as expectancy and engagement. Participants complete eight sessions over four weeks.
Treatment groups
90 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groupsGroup A: Active ABM TrainingActive comparator 1 intervention
Group B: Placebo TrainingPlacebo comparator 1 intervention
Group C: Wait-List ControlNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Change in social anxiety symptoms
Change in social anxiety symptom severity from baseline to post-intervention as measured by the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). Min-Max values 0-80, higher scores mean worse outcome.
Time frame
a) Baseline one-week before treatment begins; b) an average of 2 weeks following treatment completion. Total time frame (baseline-post) an average of 6 weeks.Secondary outcomes
1
Change in reaction-time-based attention bias measured in miliseconds
Change in attention bias derived from reaction-time performance on the dot-probe task.
Time frame
a) Baseline one-week before treatment begins; b) an average of 2 weeks following treatment completion. Total time frame (baseline-post) an average of 6 weeks.2
Change in reaction-time-based attention bias variability
Change in attention bias variability derived from reaction-time performance on the dot-probe task.
Time frame
a) Baseline one-week before treatment begins; b) an average of 2 weeks following treatment completion. Total time frame (baseline-post) an average of 6 weeks.3
Change in eye-tracking-based attention bias
Change in attention bias measured using eye-tracking during a free-viewing task with threat-related and neutral facial stimuli.
Time frame
a) Baseline one-week before treatment begins; b) an average of 2 weeks following treatment completion. Total time frame (baseline-post) an average of 6 weeks.4
Change in eye-tracking-based attention bias variability
Change in attention bias variability measured using eye-tracking during a free-viewing task with threat-related and neutral facial stimuli.
Time frame
a) Baseline one-week before treatment begins; b) an average of 2 weeks following treatment completion. Total time frame (baseline-post) an average of 6 weeks.Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov