Cognitive Bias Modification: A Novel Intervention for Alcohol Dependence and Social Anxiety
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Alcohol Drinking
- Sponsor
- University of Cincinnati
- Enrollment
- 115
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 9 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this research is to test a computerized intervention for people with co-occurring social anxiety and alcohol dependence. The intervention seeks to reduce symptoms by shifting attention away from alcohol-relevant and/or socially threatening cues. The investigators expect that participants receiving alcohol or anxiety training will experience reductions in those specific symptoms compared to participants in a control condition. The investigators also expect that participants receiving combined alcohol and anxiety training will show the largest reductions in alcohol and anxiety symptoms, relative to participants in any other condition.
Detailed Description
Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) and Social Anxiety Disorder are disabling and chronic conditions. In spite of these common and significantly overlapping problems, insight into the mechanisms linking alcohol dependence and social anxiety symptoms is minimal, and there are not well established treatment guidelines for this population. In this study, the investigators seek to develop a computerized intervention for individuals with symptoms of social anxiety and alcohol dependence. The intervention attempts to reduce symptoms by shifting attention away from alcohol-relevant and/or socially threatening cues. The investigators expect that participants receiving alcohol or anxiety training will experience reductions in those specific symptoms compared to participants in a control condition. The investigators also expect that participants receiving combined alcohol and anxiety training will show the largest reductions in alcohol and anxiety symptoms, relative to participants in any other condition.
Investigators
Joshua Magee
Assistant Research Professor
University of Cincinnati
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Current alcohol dependence
- •Elevated social anxiety symptoms
- •Willingness to consider cutting down on drinking
Exclusion Criteria
- •Current psychosis
- •Unmanaged manic symptoms
- •Significant cognitive impairment
- •Other drug use in past month
- •Receiving cognitive behavioral therapy for alcohol use disorder or social anxiety
- •Unable to read
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale
Time Frame: Baseline, weekly throughout the 4-week trial, and in the follow-up sessions (1 week and 1 month follow-ups)
The experimenter-administered Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (Liebowitz, 1987) was the primary measure to assess social anxiety symptoms. This well-validated instrument assesses fear and avoidance across a range of 24 social and performance situations during the course of the previous week. A total LSAS score was computed, ranging from 0 (no fear or avoidance) to 144 (the greatest level of fear and avoidance).
The Daily Drinking Questionnaire
Time Frame: Baseline, weekly throughout the 4-week trial, and in the follow-up sessions (1 week and 1 month follow-ups)
The Daily Drinking Questionnaire (Collins, Parks, \& Marlatt, 1985) was the primary measure used to assess weekly alcohol consumption. This calendar-based measure was administered by the experimenter once per week to monitor changes in symptoms. The measure assessed the total number of drinks in the past week.