Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation of the Prefrontal Cortex in Social Anxiety Disorder

This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation on social anxiety disorder and to track physiological changes in the brain using electroencephalography (EEG). Eligible SAD participants, after voluntarily signing an informed consent form, will first complete basic information collection, baseline questionnaire completion, and a pre-treatment EEG data collection session lasting approximately 30 minutes (including resting-state and task-state recordings). Subsequently, participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups (left iTBS group, right iTBS group, or sham stimulation group) to receive intensive treatment for one week (4 sessions daily for 5 consecutive days, totaling 20 sessions). Immediately following the intervention, the research team will conduct post-treatment EEG data collection and gather questionnaire assessments. Participants will also undergo follow-up visits at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 post-treatment to complete questionnaires and report any adverse events. All study procedures are strictly and safely conducted by trained professionals. Participation is entirely voluntary, and participants may withdraw unconditionally at any time during the study.