Clinical trial NCT06962917: Cross-Cultural Differences in the Network Structure of Social Anxiety and Body Dysmorphic Symptoms
Official title: Examining the Network Structure of Social Anxiety and Body Dysmorphic Symptoms in American, German, and Japanese: A Cross-Cultural Study
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Depression
Anxiety
Body Dysmorphic Disorders
Keywords: Cross-cultural study
Lead sponsor: Philipps University Marburg
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-05-08
Enrollment: 1523
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 55
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: OTHER
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: German, American, and Japanese individuals

Brief summary: This study will examine cross-cultural differences in the network structure of social anxiety and body dysmorphic symptoms across Germany, the United States, and Japan.

Detailed description: This study will investigate the network structure of social anxiety, body dysmorphic symptoms, depressive symptoms, and shame across Germany, the United States, and Japan. Social anxiety disorder and body dysmorphic disorder frequently co-occur and share several clinical features beyond fear of negative evaluation (Coles et al., 2006; Dietel et al., 2021; Fang et al., 2011). Both conditions have also been found to exhibit high comorbidity with major depressive disorder (Acarturk et al., 2008; Grant et al., 2005; Gunstad \& Phillips, 2003; Phillips et al., 1998). Cognitive-behavioral therapy targeting social anxiety disorder or body dysmorphic disorder has been shown to significantly alleviate depressive symptoms (e.g., Enander et al., 2016; Noda et al., 2023; Ritter et al., 2023). Shame has also been implicated in the development of depressive symptoms, as well as social anxiety disorder and body dysmorphic disorder (Kim et al., 2011). Comparing the symptom networks of social anxiety, body dysmorphic symptoms, and depression-and identifying central symptoms within each cultural context-may contribute to the development of transdiagnostic treatments with cross-cultural applicability.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* German, American, and Japanese citizens over 18 years old.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Individuals who do not obtain consent

Primary outcomes:
measure: Brief version of Fear of Negative Evaluation scale
timeFrame: From March 2025 to April 2025
measure: Mini-Social Phobia Inventory
timeFrame: From March 2025 to April 2025
measure: Appearance Anxiety Inventory.
timeFrame: From March 2025 to April 2025
measure: Patient Health Questionnaire-9
timeFrame: From March 2025 to April 2025
measure: External and Internal Shame Scale
timeFrame: From March 2025 to April 2025
measure: Auckland individualism and collectivism scale
timeFrame: From March 2025 to April 2025
measure: Demographic data
timeFrame: From March 2025 to April 2025
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
measure: LGBTQIA+ minority stress questionnaire
timeFrame: From March 2025 to April 2025
Locations:
city: Marburg
country: Germany
facility: Department of Psychology
state: Hessen
Study officials:
References: