SOFIE13a: Treatment of Social Phobia With Combined Cognitive Bias Modification and iCBT

Sponsor
Umeå University (Other)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT01570400
Collaborator
(none)
133
1
2
27
4.9

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether an internet-based treatment program, consisting of combined cognitive bias modification and cognitive behavioral therapy, reduces symptoms of social phobia among a population diagnosed with this disorder.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Behavioral: Internet-administered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT)
  • Behavioral: Cognitive bias modification training program variant 1
  • Behavioral: Cognitive bias modification training program variant 2
N/A

Detailed Description

Previous studies have shown that individuals with social phobia have attention biases, often focusing on or avoiding aversive stimuli (such as judging facial expressions) and thereby reinforcing the bias. Computerized training programs have been developed to implicitly direct the users attention. In this study, such a program -- combined with an established, well-researched and proven effective form of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) -- will be provided to 128 participants that meet the diagnostic criteria for social phobia, and the pre/post-measurements will be compared. Participants will be randomized to one of two groups, receiving one of two variants of the cognitive bias modification program (both receive iCBT).

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Actual Enrollment :
133 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Masking:
Single (Participant)
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
Reduction of Social Phobia Symptoms With Combined Internet-Based Cognitive Bias Modification and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Study Start Date :
Sep 1, 2012
Actual Primary Completion Date :
Sep 1, 2014
Actual Study Completion Date :
Dec 1, 2014

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: CBM training program variant 1 + iCBT

Cognitive bias modification training program variant 1 combined with iCBT

Behavioral: Internet-administered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT)
Established form of internet-administered cognitive behavioral therapy. Controlled progress, self-help modules with psychoeducative texts, assignments and homework. Therapist assisted.

Behavioral: Cognitive bias modification training program variant 1
Computerized, internet-based training program for implicit modification of cognitive bias of attention, variant 4. Participant is exposed to a pair of words or a pair of faces -- either neutral-negative, neutral-positive, or negative-positive -- for 500ms-1000ms, followed by a probe (< or >) in the previous position of ONE of these words or faces and is then asked to press the corresponding arrow button on a keyboard. A total of 96 word pairs and 96 face pairs are shown during a session. One third is neutral-negative, one third is neutral-positive, and one third is negative-positive. The probe always follows the more negative word or face. Duration: approx. 10 min. per session. Frequency: Once every day for 2 weeks.

Experimental: CBM training program variant 2 + iCBT

Cognitive bias modification training program variant 2 combined with iCBT

Behavioral: Internet-administered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT)
Established form of internet-administered cognitive behavioral therapy. Controlled progress, self-help modules with psychoeducative texts, assignments and homework. Therapist assisted.

Behavioral: Cognitive bias modification training program variant 2
Computerized, internet-based control training program, variant 2. Participant is exposed to a pair of words or a pair of faces -- either neutral-negative, neutral-positive, or negative-positive -- for 500ms-1000ms, followed by a probe (< or >) in the previous position of ONE of these words or faces and is then asked to press the corresponding arrow button on a keyboard. A total of 96 word pairs and 96 face pairs are shown during a session. One third is neutral-negative, one third is neutral-positive, and one third is negative-positive. The probe follows the more positive stimulus and the more negative stimulus with equal frequency. Duration: approx. 10 min. per session. Frequency: Once every day for 2 weeks.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Change from baseline in Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale Self-Rated (LSAS-SR) [24 hours]

    The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) is a questionnaire by psychiatrist and researcher, Michael Liebowitz, whose objective is to assess the range of social interaction and performance situations which patients with social anxiety disorder may fear. It is commonly used to study outcomes in clinical trials. The scale features 24 items, 13 relating to performance anxiety and 11 concerning social situations. It is not intended for use as a self-reporting diagnosis.

  2. Change from baseline in Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale Self-Rated (LSAS-SR) [11 weeks]

    The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) is a questionnaire by psychiatrist and researcher, Michael Liebowitz, whose objective is to assess the range of social interaction and performance situations which patients with social anxiety disorder may fear. It is commonly used to study outcomes in clinical trials. The scale features 24 items, 13 relating to performance anxiety and 11 concerning social situations. It is not intended for use as a self-reporting diagnosis.

  3. Change from baseline in Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale Self-Rated (LSAS-SR) [4 months]

    The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) is a questionnaire by psychiatrist and researcher, Michael Liebowitz, whose objective is to assess the range of social interaction and performance situations which patients with social anxiety disorder may fear. It is commonly used to study outcomes in clinical trials. The scale features 24 items, 13 relating to performance anxiety and 11 concerning social situations. It is not intended for use as a self-reporting diagnosis.

  4. Change from baseline in Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale Self-Rated (LSAS-SR) [Two weeks into treatment]

    The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) is a questionnaire by psychiatrist and researcher, Michael Liebowitz, whose objective is to assess the range of social interaction and performance situations which patients with social anxiety disorder may fear. It is commonly used to study outcomes in clinical trials. The scale features 24 items, 13 relating to performance anxiety and 11 concerning social situations. It is not intended for use as a self-reporting diagnosis.

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Change from baseline in Quality Of Life Inventory (QOLI) [24 hours]

    The QOLI assessment yields an overall score and a profile of problems and strengths in 16 areas of life such as love, work and play. The QOLI test is a measure of positive psychology and positive mental health.

  2. Change from baseline in Quality Of Life Inventory (QOLI) [11 weeks]

    The QOLI assessment yields an overall score and a profile of problems and strengths in 16 areas of life such as love, work and play. The QOLI test is a measure of positive psychology and positive mental health.

  3. Change from baseline in Quality Of Life Inventory (QOLI) [4 months]

    The QOLI assessment yields an overall score and a profile of problems and strengths in 16 areas of life such as love, work and play. The QOLI test is a measure of positive psychology and positive mental health.

  4. Change from baseline in Quality Of Life Inventory (QOLI) [2 weeks into treatment]

    The QOLI assessment yields an overall score and a profile of problems and strengths in 16 areas of life such as love, work and play. The QOLI test is a measure of positive psychology and positive mental health.

  5. Change from baseline in Social Phobia Scale + Social Interaction Anxiety Scale [24 hours]

    Self-rated measurements of social anxiety/phobia.

  6. Change from baseline in Social Phobia Scale + Social Interaction Anxiety Scale [11 weeks]

    Self-rated measurements of social anxiety/phobia.

  7. Change from baseline in Social Phobia Scale + Social Interaction Anxiety Scale [4 months]

    Self-rated measurements of social anxiety/phobia.

  8. Change from baseline in Social Phobia Scale + Social Interaction Anxiety Scale [2 weeks into treatment]

    Self-rated measurements of social anxiety/phobia.

  9. Change from baseline in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) [24 hours]

    9-item depression rating scale.

  10. Change from baseline in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) [11 weeks]

    9-item depression rating scale.

  11. Change from baseline in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) [4 months]

    9-item depression rating scale.

  12. Change from baseline in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) [2 weeks into treatment]

    9-item depression rating scale.

  13. Change from baseline in mini-SPIN [Daily, 1-15 days into treatment]

    Mini-SPIN is a three-item self-rating scale for assessment of symptoms of social phobia using a five-point Likert scale.

  14. Change from baseline in mini-SPIN [11 weeks]

    Mini-SPIN is a three-item self-rating scale for assessment of symptoms of social phobia using a five-point Likert scale.

  15. Change from baseline in mini-SPIN [4 months]

    Mini-SPIN is a three-item self-rating scale for assessment of symptoms of social phobia using a five-point Likert scale.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
18 Years and Older
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
No
Inclusion Criteria:
  • Written informed consent provided

  • Diagnosed social phobia (according to DSM-IV criteria)

  • Access to computer with internet connection

Exclusion Criteria:
  • Severe depression (and/or suicidal behavior)

  • Suffer from other severe psychiatric condition (e.g. psychosis)

  • Non-stable use of medication (3 months stable dosage)

  • Undergoing other, parallel psychological treatment

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Department of Psychology, Umeå University Umeå Västerbotten Sweden 90187

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • Umeå University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Per Carlbring, Professor, Department of Psychology, Umeå University

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

Responsible Party:
Per Carlbring, PhD, Professor, Umeå University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01570400
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • SOFIE13a
First Posted:
Apr 4, 2012
Last Update Posted:
Nov 1, 2016
Last Verified:
Oct 1, 2016
Keywords provided by Per Carlbring, PhD, Professor, Umeå University
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Nov 1, 2016