Understanding Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder
This study aims to understand why some adults with social anxiety disorder (SAD) respond well to treatment and others don't. Researchers will recruit 190 adults with SAD and 50 adults without SAD. If you have social anxiety, you would first receive 12 weeks of group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). If your social anxiety doesn't improve enough, you might then receive an additional 12 weeks of individual CBT along with a medication called sertraline. The study will look at brain images before and after treatment to see if they can predict who will benefit most. Success in this study is measured by changes in your social anxiety symptoms, as assessed by specific scales.
- Study design
- This interventional study plans to enroll 240 participants, including 190 adults with social anxiety disorder and 50 healthy controls. Participants with social anxiety will receive group CBT, and some may also receive individual CBT and sertraline.
- What's involved
- If you have social anxiety, you would participate in 12 weekly group CBT sessions, and potentially an additional 12 weeks of individual CBT with sertraline. Brain imaging (EEG and MRI) will be done before and after treatment.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Your social anxiety symptoms will be measured at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and for non-responders, at 19 and 25 weeks.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Neural Markers of Treatment Mechanisms and Prediction of Treatment Outcomes in Social Anxiety
At a glance
Conditions
NCT05683223
Where you'd take part
This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.
Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University
Boston, Massachusettsstudy coordinator listed
Recruiting
Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.
Study leadership
- John Gabrieli, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Daniel Dillon, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Mclean Hospital
- Anthony Rosellini, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Boston University Charles River Campus
Who to contact
Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.
What this trial measures
- Change in Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale (CGI-I)6 weeks, 12 weeks, 19 and 25 weeks for non-responders
The CGI-S is a 7-point scale that requires the clinician to rate the improvement of the patient's illness at the time of assessment compared to baseline. To aid CGI scoring, the clinician will use the Social Phobic Disorders Severity and Change Form (SPD-SC). Treatment responder status will be defined as a CGI-I score of 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved)
- Change in Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS)Before Week 0, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 19 and 25 weeks for non-responders
The LSAS is a questionnaire developed by Dr. Michael R. Liebowitz, a psychiatrist and researcher. This measure assesses the way that social phobia plays a role in the participant's life across a variety of situations. LSAS greater than or equal to 60 meets criteria for inclusion in the treatment group.