MedPath

Text Message Safety Behavior Fading for Social Anxiety

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Social Anxiety
Interventions
Behavioral: Safety Behavior Fading for Social Anxiety
Behavioral: Unhealthy Behavior Fading
Registration Number
NCT06168253
Lead Sponsor
Florida State University
Brief Summary

The current study aims to explore the efficacy of a text message based Safety Behavior Fading Intervention compared to an active control intervention.

Detailed Description

Safety behavior fading may be a viable standalone intervention for social anxiety. In the present trial, participants high in social anxiety will be randomized to either receive a daily checklist exercise aimed at eliminating (1) safety behaviors or (2) unhealthy behaviors. Individuals randomly assigned to the safety behavior fading condition will receive instructions to decrease or eliminate their four most habitual social anxiety safety behaviors. In addition, they will receive daily reminders via text message to decrease these behaviors, along with a safety behavior monitoring checklist in which the participant indicates the extent to which they decreased and/or eliminated each safety behavior over the previous day. Individuals randomly assigned to the control condition will receive similar text messages and a daily checklist to encourage fading of unhealthy behaviors. Participants in both conditions will complete checklists for 28 days. After day 14 of treatment, participants will re-select their target safety behaviors or unhealthy behaviors, and will then be prompted to reduce these new behaviors for another 14 days.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
201
Inclusion Criteria
  • Social Phobia Inventory Score >29
  • Stable Psychotropic Medications for 4 weeks prior to participation
Exclusion Criteria
  • Currently participating in psychotherapy for social anxiety

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Experimental: Safety Behavior FadingSafety Behavior Fading for Social AnxietyThis treatment lasts a total of 28 days. Participants will be asked to identify common safety behaviors related to social anxiety. For the next 14 days, participants will receive instructions to fade out these behaviors. After 14 days, participants will be asked to re-select their target safety behaviors and continue to reduce them over the next two weeks.
Unhealthy Behavior FadingUnhealthy Behavior FadingThis treatment lasts a total of 28 days. Participants will be asked to identify common unhealthy behaviors related to social anxiety. For the next 14 days, participants will receive instructions to fade out these behaviors. After 14 days, participants will be asked to re-select their target unhealthy behaviors and continue to reduce them over the next two weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)Time Frame: Day 0, Day 14, Day 28, Day 56

Self-report scale that measures Social anxiety symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 68 with higher scores indicating higher levels of social anxiety symptoms.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Self-Beliefs Related to Social Anxiety Scale (SBSA)Time Frame: Day 0, Day 28, Day 56

A 15-item scale measuring common and generally maladaptive beliefs related to social anxiety.

Change in Subtle Avoidance Frequency Examination (SAFE) scaleTime Frame: Day 0, Day 28, Day 56

A 32-item self-report measure of safety behavior usage frequency

Change in Center For Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Ten Item Version (CESD-10)Time Frame: Day 0, Day 28, Day 56

A 10-item self-report scale measuring depression symptoms; higher scores indicate greater depressive symptoms.

Change in UCLA Loneliness Scale, Short Form (ULS-8)Time Frame: Day 0, Day 28, Day 56

An 8-item self-report measure of subjective loneliness, with higher scores indicating greater loneliness.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Florida State University

🇺🇸

Tallahassee, Florida, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath