Targeting Attention Orienting to Social Threat to Reduce Social Anxiety in Youth

April 8, 2026 updated by: Florida International University
This two-site study is a test of Attention Bias Modification Treatment (ABMT) among 260 youths ages 10 to 14 years with social anxiety disorder. One-half of participants will receive 8 sessions of computer administered ABMT and the other half of participants will receive 8 sessions of computer administered Neutral Control Task (NCT). The investigators hypothesize that a biomarker of attention to social threat measured using electroencephalography (EEG) and ratings of social anxiety severity will be lower in participants who receive ABMT compared to participants who receive NCT.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
206

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Jeremy W Pettit, PhD
  • Phone Number: 305-348-1671
  • Email: jpettit@fiu.edu

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Connecticut
      • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06520
        • Yale Child Study Center Program for Anxiety and Mood Disorders
    • Florida
      • Miami, Florida, United States, 33199
        • Florida International University Center for Children and Families

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

10 years to 14 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Be between ages 10 and 14 years
  • meet DSM5 criteria for a diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder
  • presence of any coexisting psychiatric diagnoses must be of lesser severity than Social Anxiety Disorder
  • have no current psychotropic medication other than a stable dose of stimulant or non-stimulant medication for coexisting ADHD

Exclusion Criteria:

  • meet DSM5 criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Bipolar Disorder, Tourette's Disorder, Psychotic Disorders, or Substance Use Disorders
  • show high likelihood of hurting self or others
  • be a victim of undisclosed abuse requiring investigation/ supervision by the Department of Social Services
  • have an uncorrected vision or physical disability that interferes with the ability to click a mouse button rapidly and repeatedly
  • have a history of neurological illness, including seizures/epilepsy, or head injury with loss of consciousness > 5 minutes

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Attention Bias Modification Treatment
Attention Bias Modification Treatment is a computer-based attention training program.
Behavioral: Attention Bias Modification Treatment
At each of eight sessions, participants complete 160 computer administered trials wherein a pair of threatening stimuli and neutral stimuli is presented simultaneously and then followed immediately by a probe. The probe always replaces the neutral stimulus and never replaces the threatening stimulus. The intervention is based on the idea that attention can be shaped via repetitive computer based training methods, and training attention toward neutral stimuli will lead to a reduction in social anxiety.
Sham Comparator: Neutral Control Task
Neutral Control Task uses the same computer-based format as Attention Bias Modification Treatment, but includes only neutral stimuli and does not train attention.
Behavioral: Neutral Control Task
At each of eight sessions, participants complete 160 computer administered trials wherein a pair of neutral stimuli is presented simultaneously and then followed immediately by a probe. NCT matches ABMT on duration, format, and number of trials, but does not engage attention to social threat and does not train attention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
P1 Amplitude Elicited in the Dot-probe Task
Time Frame: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
Posttreatment event related potential amplitude elicited during the emotional faces dot probe task. The investigators focused specifically on the P1 amplitude time-locked to the onset of emotional facial stimuli in the dot probe task. P1 amplitude was measured using EEG methodology. Higher scores indicate greater allocation of neural resources when viewing stimuli in the dot probe task, which can be interpreted as an indicator of greater attention orientation to emotional facial stimuli.
post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
P1 Amplitude Elicited in the Dot-probe Task
Time Frame: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
Follow-up P1 event related potential amplitude elicited during the emotional faces dot probe task. The investigators focused specifically on the P1 amplitude time-locked to the onset of emotional facial stimuli in the dot probe task. P1 amplitude was measured using EEG methodology. Higher scores indicate greater allocation of neural resources when viewing stimuli in the dot probe task, which can be interpreted as an indicator of greater attention orientation to emotional facial stimuli.
Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents
Time Frame: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
posttreatment clinician rating of youth social anxiety symptom severity. A single rating is made to characterize overall social anxiety symptom severity aggregated over the past 7 days. The name of the measure is the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents. It is a clinician rated measure of the severity of youths' social anxiety symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 144, with higher scores representing more severe social anxiety.
post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents
Time Frame: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
Follow-up clinician rating of youth social anxiety symptom severity. A single rating is made to characterize overall social anxiety symptom severity aggregated over the past 7 days. The name of the measure is the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents. It is a clinician rated measure of the severity of youths' social anxiety symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 144, with higher scores representing more severe social anxiety.
Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Parent Version at Posttreatment
Time Frame: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
posttreatment parent rating of youth social anxiety symptom severity. A single rating is made to characterize overall social anxiety symptom severity aggregated over the past 7 days. The name of the measure is the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Parent Version (SCARED-P). The SCARED-P is a parent rated measure of the severity of youths' anxiety symptoms, including social anxiety. Total scores on the SCARED-P range from 0 to 82, with higher scores representing more severe anxiety.
post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Parent Version at Follow up
Time Frame: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
follow up parent rating of youth social anxiety symptom severity. A single rating is made to characterize overall social anxiety symptom severity aggregated over the past 7 days. The name of the measure is the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Parent Version (SCARED-P). The SCARED-P is a parent rated measure of the severity of youths' anxiety symptoms, including social anxiety. Total scores on the SCARED-P range from 0 to 82, with higher scores representing more severe anxiety.
Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Child Version at Posttreatment
Time Frame: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
posttreatment child rating of youth social anxiety symptom severity. A single rating is made to characterize overall social anxiety symptom severity aggregated over the past 7 days. The name of the measure is the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Child Version (SCARED-C). The SCARED-C is a child rated measure of the severity of youths' anxiety symptoms, including social anxiety. Total scores on the SCARED-C range from 0 to 82, with higher scores representing more severe anxiety.
post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Child Version at Follow-Up
Time Frame: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
Follow up child rating of youth social anxiety symptom severity. A single rating is made to characterize overall social anxiety symptom severity aggregated over the past 7 days. The name of the measure is the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Child Version (SCARED-C). The SCARED-C is a child rated measure of the severity of youths' anxiety symptoms, including social anxiety. Total scores on the SCARED-C range from 0 to 82, with higher scores representing more severe anxiety.
Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
State Anxiety Before a Speech Task
Time Frame: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
posttreatment State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children - State Subscale (STAIC-S) administered before a 3-minute speech task. Participants were told that they would give a video-recorded speech about their strengths and weaknesses for three minutes, and then given three minutes to prepare for the speech. At the end of the three-minute preparation period, participants were administered the STAIC-S. The STAIC-S measures state (momentary) levels of anxiety. Total scores range from 20 to 60, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.
post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
State Anxiety Before a Speech Task
Time Frame: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
Follow-up State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children - State Subscale (STAIC-S) administered before a 3-minute speech task. Participants were told that they would give a video-recorded speech about their strengths and weaknesses for three minutes, and then given three minutes to prepare for the speech. At the end of the three-minute preparation period, participants were administered the STAIC-S. The STAIC-S measures state (momentary) levels of anxiety. Total scores range from 20 to 60, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.
Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
State Anxiety After a Speech Task
Time Frame: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
posttreatment State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children - State Subscale (STAIC-S) administered after a 3-minute speech task. Participants were told that they would give a video-recorded speech about their strengths and weaknesses for three minutes, and then given three minutes to prepare for the speech. At the end of the three-minute preparation period, participants gave the speech. After giving the speech, they were administered the STAIC-S. The STAIC-S measures state (momentary) levels of anxiety. Total scores range from 20 to 60, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.
post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
State Anxiety After a Speech Task
Time Frame: 6 months after completing the final treatment session
follow-up State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children - State Subscale (STAIC-S) administered after a 3-minute speech task. Participants were told that they would give a video-recorded speech about their strengths and weaknesses for three minutes, and then given three minutes to prepare for the speech. At the end of the three-minute preparation period, participants gave the speech. After giving the speech, they were administered the STAIC-S. The STAIC-S measures state (momentary) levels of anxiety. Total scores range from 20 to 60, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.
6 months after completing the final treatment session

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Florida International University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Yale University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jeremy W Pettit, PhD, Florida International University
  • Principal Investigator: Wendy K Silverman, PhD, Yale University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 15, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 26, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 26, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 30, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 29, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 8, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • R01MH119299 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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