Comparison of the Effectiveness Level of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy With Sertraline Treatment in Social Anxiety Disorder

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Social Anxiety Disorder
• Interventions: Drug: Sertraline (Oral Antidepressant); Behavioral: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

• Registration Number: NCT07192367
• Lead Sponsor: Emine Kanmaz

Brief Summary

This study compares two treatment approaches for adolescents and young adults with social anxiety. One group will participate in therapy sessions using a virtual reality headset, while the other group will receive sertraline, a commonly used medication for social anxiety. The goal is to see which treatment is more effective in reducing anxiety symptoms and improving daily functioning. The study will also look at how acceptable and safe these treatments are. A total of 56 participants will be enrolled at Kocaeli University, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Detailed Description

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common psychiatric condition that often begins in adolescence and causes significant impairment in academic, social, and occupational functioning. Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as sertraline have demonstrated efficacy, many families and patients hesitate to use pharmacological treatments due to concerns about side effects and personal preferences. Virtual reality (VR)-based exposure therapy has emerged as a promising intervention by providing controlled and immersive environments where social situations can be simulated safely.

This study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of VR exposure therapy compared with sertraline in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with SAD. Participants (N = 56) will be allocated to either VR therapy or sertraline treatment depending on treatment preference. The primary outcome will be reduction in social anxiety symptoms assessed with standardized clinical scales. Secondary outcomes will include functional improvements, treatment acceptability, and safety assessments.

The trial is conducted at Kocaeli University, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and aims to provide evidence regarding whether VR exposure therapy can serve as an effective and acceptable alternative to pharmacological treatment in this population.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-11-15
• Status Verified: 2025-09
• Study First Submitted: 2025-09-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-09-17
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-09-17
• Study First Posted: 2025-09-25
• Last Update Posted: 2025-09-25
• Primary Completion: 2026-08
• Study Completion: 2026-12-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 56

Inclusion Criteria

• RESEARCH ARM:

  1. Applied to Kocaeli University Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic
  2. Have normal intelligence based on clinical observation
  3. Be between 12 and 17 years of age
  4. Have a diagnosis of SAD
  5. Have refused medication recommended for SAD
  6. For SAD; are not currently receiving medical treatment
  7. Have received written consent to participate in the study from them and/or their first-degree relatives authorized to make decisions about them
  8. Have volunteered to participate in the study through an invitation poster presentation

CONTROL ARM:

1 Applied to Kocaeli University Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic 2. Have normal intelligence based on clinical observation 3. Be between 12 and 17 years of age 4. Have a diagnosis of SAD 5. Have refused medication recommended for SAD 6. For SAD; are not currently receiving medical treatment 7. Have obtained written informed consent to participate in the study from them and/or their first-degree relatives authorized to make decisions about them 8. Have volunteered to participate in the study through an invitation poster presentation

CONTROL ARM:

1 Applied to Kocaeli University Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic 2. Have normal intelligence based on clinical observation 3. Be between 12 and 17 years of age 4. Have a diagnosis of SAD 5. For SAD; Not currently receiving medical treatment 6. Volunteer 7. Written consent for participation in the study must be obtained from the patient and/or their first-degree relative authorized to make decisions about them.

8. Accept sertraline treatment, routinely used in outpatient clinic follow-ups for SAD, and volunteer for the study.

Exclusion Criteria

RESEARCH ARM:

1. Substance use disorder
2. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
3. Autism spectrum disorder
4. Cognitive disability
5. Neurological disorder
6. Balance disorder
7. Patients who have received SSRI treatment for SAD in the last 6 months

CONTROL ARM:

1. Substance use disorder
2. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
3. Autism spectrum disorder
4. Cognitive disability
5. Patients who have received SSRI treatment for SAD within the last 6 months -

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Sertraline	Sertraline (Oral Antidepressant)	CONTROL ARM: This will consist of patients who have newly applied to our outpatient clinic and have been diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), who are the first treatment option in our routine outpatient clinic follow-up, who are deemed appropriate to begin sertraline treatment, and who accept medication treatment.
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy	Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy	RESEARCH ARM: This will be a group of volunteer patients who are being followed up with SAB in our outpatient clinic but who do not accept medication treatment and who will be informed about Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRIT) through a poster presentation.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Social Anxiety Symptoms (Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, LSAS)	Baseline (Week 0), Week 6, and Week 12	Change from baseline in social anxiety symptoms measured by the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). The LSAS evaluates fear and avoidance across 24 items covering social interaction and performance situations, providing total and subscale scores.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Anxiety Symptoms (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, SCARED)	Baseline (Week 0), Week 6, and Week 12	Change from baseline in anxiety symptoms measured by the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), including child- and parent-report forms (41 items total, yielding total and subscale scores).
Change in Social Phobia Symptoms (Çapa Social Phobia Scale for Children and Adolescents, ÇESFÖ)	Baseline (Week 0), Week 6, and Week 12	Change from baseline in social phobia symptoms measured by the Çapa Social Phobia Scale for Children and Adolescents (ÇESFÖ), a 25-item self-report Likert-type scale developed for ages 9-17. Higher scores indicate greater severity of social phobia symptoms.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Kocaeli University Hospital - Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Kocaeli, Turkey (Türkiye)