CompletedNot Applicable

Optimizing Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders

United States89 participantsStarted 2015-08-14

Plain-language summary

The study will compare the effects that two different approaches of exposure therapy have on reducing fear and anxiety in individuals with social anxiety disorder or panic disorder.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Seeking treatment for social anxiety or panic disorder and demonstration of elevated scores using standardized self-report measures and diagnostic interview
. Age 18 to 65
. Either stabilized on psychotropic medications or medication-free
. English-speaking
. Access to telehealth resources (for Zoom treatment sessions after March 2020 due to COVID-19)

Exclusion criteria

. Patient report of serious medical conditions - such as respiratory (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, muscular-skeletal diseases - or pregnancy
. Active suicidal ideation or self-harm in the past year; history of suicide attempts in the last 10 years
. History of bipolar disorder, psychosis, mental retardation or organic brain damage
. Substance abuse/dependence within last 6 months
. Concurrent therapy focused on anxiety. Participants are allowed to be in other forms of therapy, provided the therapy does not focus on anxiety (e.g., supportive counseling) and they have been stabilized on this alternative therapy for at least 6 months

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in clinician-rated severity of social anxiety or panic disorder

Timeframe: Pre-treatment to post-treatment (10 weeks), to follow-up (24 weeks)

Change in self-reported symptom severity of social anxiety or panic disorder

Timeframe: Pre-treatment to post-treatment (10 weeks), to follow-up (24 weeks)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04048824

SponsorUniversity of California, Los Angeles

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-01-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Social Anxiety Disorder trials