Treatment for social anxiety in adolescents using cognitive therapy

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 clinical trial aims to compare the effectiveness of a brief, 10-session Developmentally Oriented Cognitive Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder (DOCT-SAD) against standard counseling (SC) for adolescents aged 12 to 17 diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). Participants will be recruited from public secondary and vocational schools in the Tampere area of Finland, where trained school psychologists will deliver the DOCT-SAD intervention. The study will assess whether DOCT-SAD can better alleviate symptoms of social anxiety and lead to diagnostic remission compared to SC provided by non-method-trained professionals. A total of 156 students will be involved in this randomized controlled trial.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion criteria:

* age 13-17 years
* diagnosis of DSM-5 SAD (Social Anxiety Disorder)
* SAD is the primary mental health disorder
* motivation of the adolescent and parent to attend DOCT-SAD / SC as described in the study protocol
* good command of the Finnish language.

Exclusion criteria:

* intellectual deficit
* presence of primary autism spectrum disorder
* marked psychotic symptoms or psyhotic disorder
* severe eating disorder, depression or primary other anxiety disorder requiring acute treatment which need to be prioritized above treatment of social anxiety
* acute suicidality or suicide risk
* substance use or substance use disorder requiring child protection measures
* presence of contextual/environmental risk factors in the participants surroundings which require child protection measures

Where it's running

• Tampere University
  Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Klaus Ranta, MD, PhD
• Email: klaus.ranta@tuni.fi
• Phone: +358 504418286

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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.