Targeting Attention Orienting to Social Threat to Reduce Social Anxiety in Youth

Purpose

This two-site study is a test of Attention Bias Modification Treatment (ABMT) among 260 youths ages 10 to 14 years with social anxiety disorder. One-half of participants will receive 8 sessions of computer administered ABMT and the other half of participants will receive 8 sessions of computer administered Neutral Control Task (NCT). The investigators hypothesize that a biomarker of attention to social threat measured using electroencephalography (EEG) and ratings of social anxiety severity will be lower in participants who receive ABMT compared to participants who receive NCT.

Condition

  • Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 10 Years and 14 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Be between ages 10 and 14 years - meet DSM5 criteria for a diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder - presence of any coexisting psychiatric diagnoses must be of lesser severity than Social Anxiety Disorder - have no current psychotropic medication other than a stable dose of stimulant or non-stimulant medication for coexisting ADHD

Exclusion Criteria

  • meet DSM5 criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Bipolar Disorder, Tourette's Disorder, Psychotic Disorders, or Substance Use Disorders - show high likelihood of hurting self or others - be a victim of undisclosed abuse requiring investigation/ supervision by the Department of Social Services - have an uncorrected vision or physical disability that interferes with the ability to click a mouse button rapidly and repeatedly - have a history of neurological illness, including seizures/epilepsy, or head injury with loss of consciousness > 5 minutes

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Attention Bias Modification Treatment 		Attention Bias Modification Treatment is a computer-based attention training program.
  • Behavioral: Attention Bias Modification Treatment
    At each of eight sessions, participants complete 160 computer administered trials wherein a pair of threatening stimuli and neutral stimuli is presented simultaneously and then followed immediately by a probe. The probe always replaces the neutral stimulus and never replaces the threatening stimulus. The intervention is based on the idea that attention can be shaped via repetitive computer based training methods, and training attention toward neutral stimuli will lead to a reduction in social anxiety.
Sham Comparator
Neutral Control Task 		Neutral Control Task uses the same computer-based format as Attention Bias Modification Treatment, but includes only neutral stimuli and does not train attention.
  • Behavioral: Neutral Control Task
    At each of eight sessions, participants complete 160 computer administered trials wherein a pair of neutral stimuli is presented simultaneously and then followed immediately by a probe. NCT matches ABMT on duration, format, and number of trials, but does not engage attention to social threat and does not train attention.

Recruiting Locations

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Florida International University

Study Contact

Jeremy W Pettit, PhD
305-348-1671
jpettit@fiu.edu

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