Group Exposure Therapy for Social Anxiety
(OASIS Trial)
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: University of Colorado, Boulder
Disqualifiers: Severe depression, Suicide risk, others
No Placebo Group
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of four versions of a workshop for social anxiety and public speaking stress. All participants are current University of Colorado Boulder undergraduate students. Participation in this research study lasts for approximately 8 weeks, and includes a pre-workshop questionnaire, 3 weekly workshop sessions (ranging from 2 to 3 hours each, including a 5-minute post-session questionnaire), a post-workshop questionnaire, and a 1-month follow-up questionnaire.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the study coordinators.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Group Exposure Therapy for Social Anxiety?
Research shows that self-compassion training, which is part of the treatment, can help reduce social anxiety symptoms. Studies found that enhancing self-compassion before exposure therapy can improve engagement in therapy and that self-compassion techniques can lead to significant decreases in social anxiety.
12345Is Group Exposure Therapy for Social Anxiety safe for humans?
The research does not specifically address safety concerns, but Group Exposure Therapy and related self-compassion techniques have been studied in socially anxious individuals without reported safety issues, suggesting they are generally safe for humans.
12367How does Group Exposure Therapy for Social Anxiety differ from other treatments for social anxiety?
This treatment is unique because it combines group exposure therapy with self-compassion and peer support, which helps individuals engage more effectively with their fears by fostering a sense of common humanity and reducing self-criticism.
12345Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for University of Colorado Boulder undergraduates who experience social anxiety or stress related to public speaking. Participants will engage in an 8-week study involving questionnaires and weekly workshops.Inclusion Criteria
Current undergraduate students at CU
Able to read and write fluently in English
Experiencing elevated social anxiety symptoms indicated by a SPIN score ≥ 19
+5 more
Exclusion Criteria
Score in the moderate-high range for suicide risk as indicated by the CSSRS, report a suicide attempt in the past 12 months, or report current, ongoing suicidal ideation along with a past (lifetime) suicide attempt
I am currently experiencing severe depression.
Current students of the PI or clients or current students of the doctoral student co-facilitators
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2 weeks
Pre-Workshop Assessment
Participants complete a pre-workshop questionnaire to assess baseline measures
1 week
1 visit (in-person or virtual)
Workshop Sessions
Participants attend 3 weekly workshop sessions focusing on exposure therapy for social anxiety and public speaking fears
3 weeks
3 visits (in-person)
Post-Workshop Assessment
Participants complete a post-workshop questionnaire to assess immediate outcomes
1 week
1 visit (in-person or virtual)
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the workshop sessions, including a 1-month follow-up questionnaire
4 weeks
1 visit (in-person or virtual)
Participant Groups
The study tests four types of group exposure therapy workshops aimed at reducing social anxiety, each with a different focus: self-compassion, peer support, or both. The effectiveness will be measured through questionnaires before and after the workshops and one month later.
4Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Peer enhancedExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group exposure therapy for social anxiety and public speaking fears facilitated by a pair of doctoral student and undergraduate student co-facilitators who will explicitly use appropriate self-disclosure to establish the co-facilitators as individuals with lived experiences of social anxiety and public speaking fears.
Group II: Fully enhancedExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group exposure therapy for social anxiety and public speaking fears plus self-compassion exercises aimed at inducing a sense of common humanity, facilitated by a pair of doctoral student and undergraduate student co-facilitators who will explicitly use appropriate self-disclosure to establish the co-facilitators as individuals with lived experiences of social anxiety and public speaking fears.
Group III: Compassion EnhancedExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group exposure therapy for social anxiety and public speaking fears plus self-compassion exercises aimed at inducing a sense of common humanity.
Group IV: Exposure OnlyActive Control1 Intervention
Group exposure therapy for social anxiety and public speaking fears.
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Renee Crown Wellness Institute and Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Colorado, BoulderLead Sponsor
References
Evaluating the efficacy of common humanity-enhanced exposure for socially anxious young adults. [2022]Despite some evidence of the benefits of self-compassion training among socially anxious individuals, little is known about whether enhancing self-compassion prior to exposure therapy increases initial exposure engagement. Additionally, manipulations have relied on broad definitions of self-compassion, rendering it difficult to distinguish the impact of individual components. This study employed three experiential exercises designed to enhance one facet of self-compassion-common humanity. Socially anxious undergraduates (N = 63) were randomized in groups to 1) common humanity-enhanced exposure (n = 32) or 2) exposure alone (n = 31). In the common humanity condition, participants wrote self-compassionately, shared fears, and completed a common humanity-focused lovingkindness meditation. All participants then completed a speech exposure in front of live judges followed by an optional second exposure. Within the common humanity condition, positive self-responding to the speech exposure increased (b = 0.30, p = .026). Common humanity participants also remained in the first exposure longer, relative to exposure alone (b = -30.92, p = .002). Participants rated exercises as at least moderately helpful, with sharing fears rated most helpful. In sum, a brief group-based multi-modal common humanity induction represents a promising approach to improving initial engagement with feared contexts among socially anxious individuals.
The effect of a brief online self-compassion versus cognitive restructuring intervention on trait social anxiety. [2020]We compared two brief online interventions of 2-week duration for individuals with elevated levels of social anxiety. Participants were randomized to self-compassion or cognitive restructuring conditions (N = 119) and assessed across five assessment points, including a 5-week follow-up. Mediators and moderators of outcome were also examined. Both interventions led to significant decreases in social anxiety (d's ranged from 0.26 to 0.58), which were maintained and improved at follow-up (d's from baseline ranged from 0.53 to 0.80). Of those who were above social anxiety cut-off at baseline (>75%), approximately 20% of participants in each group showed reliable and clinically significant changes in symptoms. No differences between the treatment conditions were found for social anxiety outcomes. Similarly, there were no measures that differentially mediated the effect of treatment condition on social anxiety. Furthermore, we did not find support for a theory-driven mediational model in which self-compassion reduced social anxiety through activation of the soothing system. Contrary to predictions and theory, neither self-criticism nor fear of self-compassion moderated the effect of the interventions. Although preliminary, the findings suggest that self-compassion techniques warrant further study as an additional means of reducing social anxiety.
Self-compassion training for individuals with social anxiety disorder: a preliminary randomized controlled trial. [2023]Self-compassion is the ability to offer oneself kindness and compassion in response to failure, suffering, or insecurity. Learning how to be self-compassionate through self-compassion training appears effective for improving psychological well-being in community samples and promising for clinical populations. The current randomized controlled trial was designed to (a) examine the effectiveness of a self-guided self-compassion training program; and (b) determine whether self-compassion training can help mitigate social anxiety disorder (SAD) symptoms. Adults with SAD (n = 63; Mage = 34.3, SD = 11.4; 67.8% female; 84.7% Caucasian) were randomized to a waitlist control condition, a self-guided self-compassion training condition, or a self-guided applied relaxation training condition for six weeks. Outcome measures of SAD symptoms and self-compassion were completed pre-, mid-, and post-treatment, as well as at 3-months follow-up. Multilevel linear modelling results suggested the self-compassion training program was statistically superior at improving outcome measures relative to the waitlist control condition (ps < .05; η2ps = .12-.33), but not relative to the applied relaxation training condition (ps > .05; η2ps = .01-.05). Self-compassion training produced greater clinically significant gains in self-compassion and reductions in fear of self-compassion compared to both the waitlist condition and applied relaxation training. The current trial provides preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of a self-help self-compassion training program and provides evidence that self-compassion training may be beneficial for managing clinically significant SAD symptoms.
Brief cognitive behavior group therapy for social anxiety among medical students: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. [2021]To compare brief cognitive behavior group therapy (bCBGT) for social anxiety disorder (SAD) to a credible placebo, psychoeducational-supportive therapy (PST), in a sample of medical students.
[The influence of self-improving based group psychotherapy in defense mechanisms for the clients with social anxiety disorder]. [2009]To evaluate the influence and therapeutic effect of self-improving based group psychotherapy which bases on pathopsychology mechanism of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in denfense mechanisms for the client with SAD.
Transportability of imagery-enhanced CBT for social anxiety disorder. [2019]Pilot and open trials suggest that imagery-enhanced group cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is highly effective for social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, before being considered reliable and generalisable, the effects of the intervention need to be replicated by clinicians in a setting that is independent of the protocol developers. The current study compared outcomes from clients with a principal diagnosis of SAD at the Australian clinic where the protocol was developed (n = 123) to those from an independent Canadian clinic (n = 46) to investigate whether the large effects would generalise. Trainee clinicians from the independent clinic ran the groups using the treatment protocol without any input from its developers. The treatment involved 12 2-h group sessions plus a one-month follow-up. Treatment retention was comparable across both clinics (74% vs. 78%, ≥9/12 sessions) and the between-site effect size was very small and non-significant on the primary outcome (social interaction anxiety, d = 0.09, p = .752). Within-group effect sizes were very large in both settings (ds = 2.05 vs. 2.19), and a substantial minority (41%-44%) achieved clinically significant improvement at follow-up. Replication of treatment effects within an independent clinic and with trainee clinicians increases confidence that outcomes are generalisable.
Self-compassion and social anxiety: The mediating effect of emotion regulation strategies and the influence of depressed mood. [2022]Self-compassion constitutes a positive way of relating towards the self that enables emotional regulation and reduces emotional distress. This research first explored differences among a sample of persons with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and groups of high socially anxious (HSA) and low socially anxious (LSA) students on self-compassion, emotion regulation, and social anxiety. We then investigated emotional regulation as a mediator of the prediction of social anxiety by self-compassion and the influence of depressed mood on those relationships.