Attention Bias Modification Versus Attention Control in Treatment of Social Anxiety

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical efficacy of treatment using gaze contingent music reward therapy (GC-MRT) with attention control treatment based on a similar paradigm, for social anxiety disorder (SAD)

Detailed Description
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This study examines the possibility that the effectiveness shown for GC-MRT in the treatment of SAD leans on attention control rather than bias modification. Therefore half of the participants will receive the classic GC-MRT course of treatment while the other half a version of the task with non-emotional stimuli (geometric shapes).

Official Title
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Attention Bias Modification Versus Attention Control in Treatment of Social Anxiety

Conditions
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Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia), Social Anxiety, Social Anxiety Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Attention Bias Modification
* Behavioral: Attention Control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: A signed consent form Men and women between the ages of 18 and 65. Meeting a current diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder (SP) according to the DSM-IV. SP as the primary diagnosis: In cases of co-morbidity, SP will be deemed as the most distressing and clinically significant condition among the co-morbid disorders. No current pharmaco-therapy. Exclusion Criteria: A diagnosis of psychotic or bipolar disorders. A diagnosis of a neurological disorder (i.e., epilepsy, brain injury). Drug or alcohol abuse. Any current pharmacological treatment. Any current psychotherapeutic treatment. Change in treatment during the study. Poor judgment capacity (i.e., children under 18 and special populations).

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: GCMRT<br>Attention bias modification: participants will receive gaze-contingent feedback according to their viewing patterns on disgusted and neutral faces | Behavioral: Attention Bias Modification<br>* Feedback according to participants' viewing patterns, in order to modify their attention bias to threat<br>|
| Experimental: attention control<br>Attention control modification: participants will receive gaze-contingent feedback according to their viewing patterns on rounded and sharp geometric shapes | Behavioral: Attention Control<br>* Feedback according to participants' viewing patterns, in order to strengthen their attention control<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline - the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) - Diagnostic Interview scores | The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) is a 24-item scale, each item corresponding to a situation selected on the basis of clinical experience. Each item is rated on a severity scale ranging from 0 to 3 with regard to the passing week, measuring separately two components of social anxiety, specifically, fear/anxiety and avoidance of social interaction and performance situations. The minimum and maximum values of the LSAS total score are 0 and 144, respectively, with higher scores mean worse outcome. Although the assessor may request and ask for further detail and adjust the rating based on clinical experience, this option is not often exercised, and inter-rater agreement is not considered to be a relevant concern. | at baseline, one week after end of intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline - the Social Phobia Inventory scores | This is a 17-item self-report measure of social anxiety evaluating fear, avoidance and physiological discomfort. Each item is rated on scale ranging from 0 to 4 with a total score ranging from 0 to 68. Higher scores mean worse outcome. | at baseline, one week after end of intervention | 
| Clinical Global Impression | A global measure of clinician impression improvement and severity of illness, ranging from 1 to 7. Higher scores mean worse outcome. | at baseline, one week after end of intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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social anxiety, social phobia, attention bias modification, attention control