Smart-Phone Safety Behavior Fading Intervention for Appearance Concerns (Open ARSB Study)

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Body Dysmorphic Disorder; Social Anxiety Disorder; Eating Disorders

• Registration Number: NCT06896435
• 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 a relaxing video intervention for appearance concerns.

Detailed Description

Description: Appearance-related safety behavior fading intervention procedures will follow methodology previously used in the Cougle Lab. The safety behavior fading intervention is designed to target a decrease or elimination of appearance-related safety behaviors. Individuals randomly assigned to the safety behavior fading condition will receive instructions to decrease or eliminate their endorsed appearance-related 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. The daily reminder will include the following language: "Hi! This is a friendly reminder to avoid using your checklist behaviors. Please tap the link below to access today's checklist: \[link to checklist\]." Text messages will be delivered using EZtexting a text messaging platform used for research and marketing. Note that no identifying information will be included in this platform. Each participants phone number will be accompanied with a anonymized ID code. Individuals randomly assigned to the relaxing video condition will receive a total of 4 videos over the course of a month (1 video per week, 15 minutes each) wherein participants will be invited to close their eyes and focus their attention on the present moment while listening to relaxing piano music and songbirds.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2025-03-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-03-20
• Study First Posted: 2025-03-26
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-14
• Study Start: 2025-04-15
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-16
• Primary Completion: 2026-01
• Study Completion: 2026-04

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 400

Inclusion Criteria

• Seeking treatment for appearance concerns

Exclusion Criteria

• Currently receiving treatment (therapy, counseling, etc.) for anxiety, depression, eating disorder, or body image/appearance concerns
• If applicable, unstable psychiatric medication usage any time over the past 4 weeks

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Appearance Behaviors Checklist past-week version (author constructed)	Day 0, Day 28, Day 56	Self-report scale used to measure frequency of engaging in appearance-related safety behaviors. This scale will be used as a manipulation check. Each item is rated on a 0 to 10 scale. Total scores range from 0 to 130 with higher scores indicating greater engagement in appearance-related safety behaviors
The Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS; Hart et al., 2008)	Day 0, Day 28, Day 56	Self-report scale that measures appearance anxiety symptoms. Scores range from 16 to 80 with higher scores indicating higher levels of appearance concerns.
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN; Connor et al., 2000)	Day 0, 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.
Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire (Devilly & Borkovec, 2000).	Day 0	Self-report scale for measuring treatment expectancy and rationale credibility for use in clinical outcome studies. Three items are rated on a 0-10 scale and one item is rated on a 0-100 scale with higher scores meaning greater expectancy and credibility.
Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI; Garner et al., 1983).	Day 0, Day 28, Day 56	Self-report scale for measuring drive for thinness, bulimia, and body dissatisfaction for use in clinical outcome studies. Each item is rated on a 0-5 scale with a total score range of 0-125 with higher scores indicating greater drive for thinness, bulimia, and body dissatisfaction.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Distress Intolerance Index (McHugh & Otto, 2012)	Day 0, Day 28, Day 56	Self-report scale for measuring tolerance to distress for use in clinical outcome studies. Each item is rated on a 0-4 scale with a total score range of 0-40 with higher scores indicating greater intolerance of distress.
Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-Concerns over mistakes subscale (Frost et al., 1990)	Day 0, Day 28, Day 56	Self-report scale for measuring concerns for making mistakes for use in clinical outcome studies. Each item is rated on a 0-4 scale with a total score range of 0-36 with higher scores indicating greater concerns for making mistakes.
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10 (CESD; Andreson, 1994)	Day 0, Day 28, Day 56	Self-report measure of depression symptom severity. Each item is rated on a 0 to 3 scale. Total scores range from 0 to 30 with higher scores indicating greater depression severity.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Florida State University; 🇺🇸 Tallahassee, Florida, United States