Breathe Hard to Breathe Easy: Online breathwork-assisted therapy for social anxiety

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized, between-groups trial will enroll 96 adults with clinically significant social anxiety and randomly assign them to either a breathwork-assisted psychotherapy program that induces altered states of consciousness or an active control that does not. Each intervention consists of six remote sessions (two preparation, two breathwork, two integration) delivered online. Eligible participants are aged 18–65, fluent in English or Dutch, and have an LSAS score ≥50. Key safety exclusions include cardiovascular or respiratory disease, seizure disorders, psychotic or bipolar disorders, pregnancy, and prior adverse reactions to breathwork.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Fluent in the English or Dutch language
* Aged between 18 and 65
* LSAS score ≥50
* Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Hypotension (diastolic \< 60 mmHg; systolic \> 90 mmHg) or hypertension (diastolic \> 90 mmHg; systolic \> 140 mmHg)
* History or presence of psychotic or bipolar disorders or first-degree relatives suffering from this
* History of respiratory or cardiovascular/heart problems or disease, cerebral aneurysm
* History of fainting or syncope, epilepsy or seizures
* History of panic disorder or panic attacks,
* Having had adverse reactions with prior breathwork sessions (i.e., fainting),
* Pregnancy, thinking one might be pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding
* Any problems affecting the ability to pace breathing (i.e., active/chronic respiratory infection including blocked nose/cough/cold/fever, etc.), breathlessness, abnormally slow breathing (bradypnea), or abnormally fast breathing (tachypnoea), any other physical/mental health conditions or current life events impairing the ability to engage in activities involving breath control
* Taking any regular medication other than the contraceptive pill, including medications to reduce blood pressure (i.e., Ramipril or other ACE-inhibitors) and beta-blockers (i.e., Propranolol).

Where it's running

• Maastricht University
  Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Kim PC Kuypers, PhD — Maastricht University
• Study coordinator: Mauro Cavarra, PhD
• Email: fpn-pim_p154@maastrichtuniversity.nl
• Phone: ‭+31433882210‬

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.