Examining how social support affects fear extinction in anxious individuals
Can Social Support Figures Enhance Fear Extinction in Patients With Social Anxiety?
This study is testing if having reminders of supportive people can help reduce fear in individuals with social anxiety and others.
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 | NCT04565041 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, aims to explore the role of social support in enhancing fear extinction among both healthy individuals and those diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. Participants aged 18-55 will be recruited and undergo a fear extinction procedure where threatening cues are paired with images of their chosen social support figures. The study will include 100 participants, with an expected recruitment of 150 to ensure adequate enrollment. The goal is to determine if reminders of social support can help reduce fear responses in individuals with anxiety disorders.
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 to enhance fear extinction.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of using social support in fear extinction is novel, related studies have shown promise in the broader context of anxiety treatment.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * healthy adults 18 to 55 * 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: ericahornstien@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.