Understanding why some people benefit from cognitive behavioral 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 research aims to explore the individual factors that contribute to the success of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating social anxiety disorder and body dysmorphic disorder. By analyzing neural, neurocognitive, clinical, and self-report data, the study seeks to identify why some individuals respond positively to CBT while others do not. Participants will undergo 12 sessions of CBT along with neuroimaging scans before, during, and after treatment. The study will include both clinical participants with the target disorders and healthy control participants for comparison.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

Clinical sample (N=110):

1. Men and women, age 18-45
2. Treatment-seeking individuals who meet criteria for a primary DSM-5 diagnosis of primary social anxiety disorder (SAD) or body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) based on the SCID-5-RV
3. Fluent in English and willing to provide informed consent.

Control sample (N=50):

1. Men and women, age 18-45
2. No current or lifetime history of psychiatric disorders, as assessed using the SCID-5-RV
3. Meet criteria for low levels of anxiety (GAD-7 score of \<8) and depression (PHQ-9 score \<10)
4. Fluent in English and willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

All groups:

1. Score \< 80 based on WRAT5 Word Reading Subtest
2. fMRI contraindications (e.g., electronic medical devices such as pacemakers, implanted defibrillators, etc.; metal implants not approved for MRI; pregnancy; claustrophobia)

2\. Active suicidal or homicidal ideation, or any features requiring a higher level of care 3. Lifetime history of manic or hypomanic episode, psychotic symptoms, traumatic brain injury, neurological disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, or attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder; active alcohol or substance use disorder in the past 6 months 4. Current use of psychotropic medications, except antidepressants taken at a stable dose for 3 months prior to study baseline 5. Previous CBT non-responder or current CBT

Where it's running

• University of Washington
  Seattle, Washington, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Angela Fang, PhD — University of Washington
• Study coordinator: Angela Fang, PhD
• Email: angfang@uw.edu
• Phone: (206) 616-5783

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Anxiety Skills Study: See if video skill training plus therapy helps people with anxiety

  This study tests whether a brief video-based skill training can help people with anxiety as well as four therapy sessions, and how durable the effects are over a year.

  Recruiting Ohio State University · Columbus, Ohio · NCT07774481

• taVNS Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

  This study tests whether non-invasive taVNS can help reduce social anxiety symptoms in adults with SAD.

  Recruiting Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine · Hangzhou, Zhejiang and 1 other locations · NCT07772401

• Metacognitive Therapy vs Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders

  This study asks people with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, or PTSD to share their experiences after trying metacognitive therapy or disorder-specific cognitive-behavioral therapy in a randomized trial.

  Recruiting Karolinska Institutet · Stockholm · NCT07382323

• VR exposure therapy versus sertraline for social anxiety in teens

  This study will test whether virtual reality exposure therapy or the medication sertraline works better for adolescents aged 12–17 with social anxiety.

  Recruiting Phase 4 Kocaeli University · Kocaeli · NCT07192367

• Mindful Self-Compassion delivered in person versus by video for anxiety and depression

  This project will see if an 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion class delivered in person or by video helps people with anxiety or depression have fewer symptoms.

  Recruiting Georgetown University · Washington D.C., District of Columbia · NCT07028216

• Stepped versus stratified care for anxiety in children and adolescents

  This project tests whether starting all 8–17-year-olds with anxiety on online CBT and adding in-person CBT only if needed (stepped care) works as well as assigning online or in-person CBT up front based on clinical complexity (stratified care).

  Recruiting Region Skane · Lund · NCT06942429

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.