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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06168253

Text Message Safety Behavior Fading for Social Anxiety

The current study aims to explore the efficacy of a text message based Safety Behavior Fading Intervention compared to an active control intervention.

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Key information

Conditions

Social Anxiety

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida, 32312, United States

About this study

Safety behavior fading may be a viable standalone intervention for social anxiety. In the present trial, participants high in social anxiety will be randomized to either receive a daily checklist exercise aimed at eliminating (1) safety behaviors or (2) unhealthy behaviors. Individuals randomly assigned to the safety behavior fading condition will receive instructions to decrease or eliminate their four most habitual social anxiety safety behaviors. In addition, they will receive daily reminders via text message to decrease these behaviors, along with a safety behavior monitoring checklist in which the participant indicates the extent to which they decreased and/or eliminated each safety behavior over the previous day. Individuals randomly assigned to the control condition will receive similar text messages and a daily checklist to encourage fading of unhealthy behaviors. Participants in both conditions will complete checklists for 28 days. After day 14 of treatment, participants will re-select their target safety behaviors or unhealthy behaviors, and will then be prompted to reduce these new behaviors for another 14 days.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Social Phobia Inventory Score >29
  • Stable Psychotropic Medications for 4 weeks prior to participation

Exclusion criteria

  • Currently participating in psychotherapy for social anxiety

Treatment and study plan

Safety Behavior Fading for Social Anxiety

Behavioral

Participants are asked to reduce or eliminate safety behaviors via text message reminders and checklists to monitor progress.

Unhealthy Behavior Fading

Behavioral

Participants are asked to reduce or eliminate unhealthy behaviors via text message reminders and checklists to monitor progress.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)

    Time frame: Time Frame: Day 0, Day 14, Day 28, Day 56

    Self-report scale that measures Social anxiety symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 68 with higher scores indicating higher levels of social anxiety symptoms.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Center For Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Ten Item Version (CESD-10)

    Time frame: Time Frame: Day 0, Day 28, Day 56

    A 10-item self-report scale measuring depression symptoms; higher scores indicate greater depressive symptoms.

  2. Change in UCLA Loneliness Scale, Short Form (ULS-8)

    Time frame: Time Frame: Day 0, Day 28, Day 56

    An 8-item self-report measure of subjective loneliness, with higher scores indicating greater loneliness.

  3. Change in Self-Beliefs Related to Social Anxiety Scale (SBSA)

    Time frame: Time Frame: Day 0, Day 28, Day 56

    A 15-item scale measuring common and generally maladaptive beliefs related to social anxiety.

  4. Change in Subtle Avoidance Frequency Examination (SAFE) scale

    Time frame: Time Frame: Day 0, Day 28, Day 56

    A 32-item self-report measure of safety behavior usage frequency

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Florida State University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Text Message Safety Behavior Fading Intervention for Social Anxiety

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Dec 13, 2023
Registry last updated
Feb 24, 2025

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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