Examining how social support affects fear acquisition in anxious individuals
Can Social Support Figures Enhance Fear Extinction in Patients With Social Anxiety?
This study tests if having social support can help people with social anxiety and healthy individuals feel less fear when faced with scary situations.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, Los Angeles Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT04564976 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the role of social support in preventing fear acquisition among healthy individuals and those diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. Researchers at UCLA will recruit 100 participants, half of whom will be healthy and half with social anxiety, to undergo fear acquisition procedures involving the pairing of neutral images with mild electric shocks. Participants will be exposed to images of social support figures during these procedures to assess whether this support can mitigate fear responses. The study aims to enhance understanding of how social support influences anxiety and fear learning.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include healthy adults aged 18-55 and individuals diagnosed with social anxiety disorder.
Not a fit: Patients with chronic mental illnesses or those with specific co-morbid disorders may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for individuals with anxiety disorders by leveraging social support mechanisms.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of using social support images in fear acquisition is novel, related studies have shown that social support can positively influence anxiety outcomes.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * healthy adults 18 and 35 * fluent in English * no history of mental illness (healthy participants: including anxiety, depression, phobia, or any other mental health related disorder diagnosed by a mental health professional) * diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (anxious participants: allowed co-morbid disorders include depression, other anxiety disorders, and PTSD) Exclusion Criteria: * pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the experiment period * presence of chronic mental illness (healthy participants: as determined by the report of a past diagnosis of mental illness by a physician or psychologist and/or the prescription of medication related to mental health disorder; including anxiety, depression, phobia, or any other diagnosed psychological disorder) * presence of non-allowed co-morbid disorders (anxious participants: including, bipolar disorder, psychosis, substance use disorder, neurological disorder, and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder) * current and regular use of prescription medications related to mental health disorders
Where this trial is running
Los Angeles, California
- UCLA Department of Psychology — Los Angeles, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Erica Hornstein, PhD
- Email: ericahornstein@ucla.edu
- Phone: 9175664470
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.