RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05858346

Comparing TBT to Disorder-Specific Psychotherapy in Veterans With Social Anxiety Disorder

A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy to Disorder-Specific Psychotherapy in the Recovery of Veterans With Social Anxiety Disorder and Comorbid PTSD Symptomatology

Sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development

Enrollment

264 participants

Start Date

Apr 1, 2024

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Social Anxiety Disorder

Summary

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a brief, efficient, and effective treatment for individuals with depressive/anxiety disorders. However, CBT is largely underutilized within the Department of Veterans Affairs due to the cost and burden of trainings necessary to deliver all of the related disorder-specific treatments (DSTs). Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy (TBT), in contrast, is specifically designed to address numerous distinct disorders within a single protocol in Veterans with depressive/anxiety disorders. The proposed research seeks to evaluate the efficacy of TBT by assessing psychiatric symptomatology and related impairment outcomes in Veterans with social anxiety disorder and comorbid posttraumatic stress via a randomized controlled trial of TBT and an existing DST. Assessments will be completed at pre-, mid-, and post-treatment, and at 6-month follow-up. Process variables also will be investigated.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 80 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is comparing two therapy approaches for veterans who have both social anxiety disorder and significant PTSD symptoms: a disorder-specific therapy designed for social anxiety versus a transdiagnostic behavior therapy (TBT) that targets common underlying patterns across multiple conditions. **You may be eligible if...** - You are a veteran registered at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System - You have been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (meeting DSM-5 criteria) - You have clinically significant PTSD symptoms - You are able to give informed consent **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You were hospitalized for psychiatric reasons or made a suicide attempt in the past 2 months - You have a serious medical condition that would interfere with participation - You recently started a new psychiatric medication (within the past 4 weeks) - Your primary diagnosis involves psychosis, personality disorder, substance use disorder, or bipolar disorder Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALTransdiagnostic Behavior Therapy

TBT was developed to address transdiagnostic avoidance via the use of four different types of exposure techniques (situational/in-vivo, physical/interoceptive, thought/imaginal, and \[positive\] emotional/behavioral activation). From the transdiagnostic avoidance perspective, the four exposure practices are matched to the type(s) of avoidance experienced by patients based upon their cluster of symptoms/disorders.

BEHAVIORALCognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

To provide an evidence-based comparison for the TBT condition, the research-supported psychological treatment of CBT for SAD will be used. CBT for SAD demonstrates efficacy in improving SAD symptoms and quality of life for patients with SAD, with durable improvements evidenced at follow-up assessments. CBT for SAD was used as a comparison to TBT in previous preliminary research. CBT for SAD involves several primary components, including: 1) psychoeducation, 2) training in cognitive restructuring, 3) exposures, 4) advanced cognitive restructuring, and 5) termination.