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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07753538

Interpretation Bias Modification Training for Social Anxiety Disorder

The overall goal of the current study is to develop and evaluate a computerized interpretation bias modification (IBM) training for treating social anxiety disorder (SAD). A key focus is placed on enhancing accessibility and efficacy of IBM for SAD by delivering it through a mobile platform, with three specific aims outlined.

First, the current study aims to examine the efficacy of the IBM training in reducing social anxiety symptoms by comparing the pre-, post-, and follow-up assessments of the IBM group with a control group.

Second, the current study aims to examine the effect of IBM on reducing participants' daily social anxiety symptoms using daily diary methodology.

Third, the investigators also aim to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the IBM training. The investigators expect that at least 70% of participants will complete 4 or more of the six training sessions.

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Key information

Conditions

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders Phobia, Social Phobic Disorders

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53211, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of SAD based on the DIAMOND screening interview
  • Moderate or severe symptoms of SAD as assessed by the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS score of >= 30)
  • Ages 18-60
  • English as a primary language
  • Possession of a mobile device for access to training and text message for daily diary

Exclusion criteria

  • Self-report 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 as measured by Diagnostic History Scale
  • Current psychotherapy for SAD

Treatment and study plan

Interpretation Bias Modification Training

Behavioral

Interpretation Bias Modification Training aims to help participants interpret ambiguous social scenarios in a benign way, with the goal of reducing social anxiety symptoms. Individuals with social anxiety disorder tend to interpret ambiguous social situations negatively or catastrophize mildly negative events. This intervention targets this core cognitive characteristic by repeatedly training more adaptive interpretation. Cognitive training is delivered through mobile devices, increasing accessibility and cost-effectiveness while allowing participants to complete the intervention remotely.

Stress Management Psychoeducation

Behavioral

Stress Management Psychoeducation (SMP) is used as a credible comparison condition to evaluate whether CBM-I has specific therapeutic effects on reducing social anxiety symptoms. The SMP condition follows the same training format as CBM-I, in which participants complete fragmented sentences by filling in missing letters. However, the training content focuses on stress management strategies rather than modifying maladaptive interpretations of ambiguous social situations.

Primary outcomes

  1. Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation (BFNE)

    Time frame: Pre-training (baseline); Post-training (approximately 1-2 days after completion of the 2-week intervention); 2-week follow-up (2 weeks after completion of the 2-week intervention)

    The BFNE is a 12-item questionnaire, evaluating the level of apprehension and distress about expected negative evaluation. The BFNE was used to assess the cognitive symptoms of social anxiety disorder.

  2. Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale- Self-report Version (LSAS-SR)

    Time frame: Pre-training (baseline); Post-training (approximately 1-2 days after completion of the 2-week intervention); 2-week follow-up (2 weeks after completion of the 2-week intervention)

    The LSAS-SR is a 24-item scale that assesses the severity of social anxiety symptoms across two subscales: the level of anxiety (emotional reaction) and the level of avoidance (behavioral reaction). In the current study, the two subscales will be analyzed separately to evaluate the effects of the intervention on the emotional and behavioral symptoms of social anxiety.

  3. Diagnostic Interview for Anxiety, Mood, and OCD and Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders (DIAMOND)

    Time frame: Pre-training (baseline); 2-week follow-up (2 weeks after completion of the 2-week intervention)

    DIAMOND is a semi-structured diagnostic interview to assess DSM-5 psychiatric disorders and has demonstrated good reliability and validity. For the current study, only the social anxiety disorder module was administered at pre-training and follow-up assessments.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Word Sentence Association Paradigm (WSAP)

    Time frame: Pre-training (baseline); Post-training (approximately 1-2 days after completion of the 2-week intervention); 2-week follow-up (2 weeks after completion of the 2-week intervention)

    The WSAP task was used to evaluate interpretation bias in response to ambiguous situations. During the task, participants indicate whether a presented word (either negative or benign) is related or unrelated to a subsequently presented ambiguous sentence. The scenarios included both social and general situations. The percentage of endorsement responses was calculated separately for each trial type: social-threat, social-benign, general-threat, and general benign.

  2. Daily Diary

    Time frame: 2 weeks of training period

    Daily diary was used to evaluate participants' daily social interactions and changes in social anxiety symptoms. Participants in both groups received a text message to complete the daily diary survey each evening over the 2-week period of training. The survey first asked participants to report the social interactions they had experienced that day, followed by questions assessing anxiety, avoidance, negative self-perception, fear of negative judgment, and satisfaction related to the most stressful social interaction.

  3. Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ)

    Time frame: After the 1st training session

    The CEQ is a self-report measure that assesses participants' perceptions of the credibility of an intervention their expectations regarding its outcomes. This measure was used to evaluate the feasibility of the CBM-I intervention.

  4. Treatment Acceptability Questionnaire (TAQ)

    Time frame: 2-week follow-up (2 weeks after completion of the 2-week intervention)

    The TAQ is a 5-item self-report measures that evaluates participants' perceptions of an intervention's acceptability, ethicality, acceptability of side effects, pleasantness and comfort of the intervention.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Computerized Interpretation Bias Modification Training for Social Anxiety Disorder

Acronym: SAD

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Aug 7, 2026
Registry last updated
Aug 7, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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