This study compares two treatment approaches for adolescents and young adults with social anxiety. One group will participate in therapy sessions using a virtual reality headset, while the other group will receive sertraline, a commonly used medication for social anxiety. The goal is to see which treatment is more effective in reducing anxiety symptoms and improving daily functioning. The study will also look at how acceptable and safe these treatments are. A total of 56 participants will be enrolled at Kocaeli University, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Applied to Kocaeli University Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic
Have normal intelligence based on clinical observation
Be between 12 and 17 years of age
Have a diagnosis of SAD
Substance use disorder
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Autism spectrum disorder
Cognitive disability
Parallel
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
BehavioralParticipants receive structured Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy sessions using a VR headset. The intervention provides simulated social situations (e.g., public speaking, group interactions) to gradually expose participants to anxiety-provoking scenarios. The sessions are guided and standardized to target symptoms of social anxiety disorder.
Sertraline (Oral Antidepressant)
DrugParticipants receive pharmacological treatment with Sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly prescribed for social anxiety disorder. Dosage and administration will follow clinical guidelines and physician judgment.
Change in Social Anxiety Symptoms (Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, LSAS)
Change from baseline in social anxiety symptoms measured by the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). The LSAS evaluates fear and avoidance across 24 items covering social interaction and performance situations, providing total and subscale scores.
Change in Social Phobia Symptoms (Çapa Social Phobia Scale for Children and Adolescents, ÇESFÖ)
Change from baseline in social phobia symptoms measured by the Çapa Social Phobia Scale for Children and Adolescents (ÇESFÖ), a 25-item self-report Likert-type scale developed for ages 9-17. Higher scores indicate greater severity of social phobia symptoms.
Change in Anxiety Symptoms (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, SCARED)
Change from baseline in anxiety symptoms measured by the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), including child- and parent-report forms (41 items total, yielding total and subscale scores).
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