None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The overall aim of this research is to test whether Emotional Working Memory Training (eWMT) can be used as a form of treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) symptoms. eWMT will be compared with the treatment outcomes of internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT; eWMT vs iCBT). An initial pilot study testing the methodology of this experimental study with a mixed non-clinical and clinical sample has already been completed. The experimental study will also contain individuals diagnosed with SAD and elevated levels of social anxiety.
Interventions
The Emotional Working Memory Training task (eWMT) is a dual n-back task (Schweizer et al., 2011) that requires participants to monitor visual stimuli on a screen (e.g. negative emotional faces, such as angry, sad, fearful faces) and auditory stimuli through a speaker (e.g., negative emotional words such as rape, evil) simultaneously. eWMT is designed to target mental control over emotional stimuli (du Toit et al., 2020; Schweizer, 2011). Participants completing the eWMT will complete 15 eWMT ses
The Emotional Working Memory Training task (eWMT) is a dual n-back task (Schweizer et al., 2011) that requires participants to monitor visual stimuli on a screen (e.g. negative emotional faces, such as angry, sad, fearful faces) and auditory stimuli through a speaker (e.g., negative emotional words such as rape, evil) simultaneously. eWMT is designed to target mental control over emotional stimuli (du Toit et al., 2020; Schweizer, 2011). Participants completing the eWMT will complete 15 eWMT sessions (20-minutes each) over a three-week period in their own homes using their own mobile phones. Once each session of training is completed, the data from the participant's mobile phone is uploaded to a secure database, which can be downloaded by the researcher to monitor training completion and training progress.
Sponsors
Simone du Toit
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Adult individuals with elevated levels of social anxiety, as determined by the screening measures of social anxiety (based on empirically based cut-off score); and who are fluent in written and spoken English.
Exclusion criteria
Participants will only be excluded if they have problems requiring immediate attention. This includes high risk of suicide, severe substance abuse or dependence, and/or florid psychosis. The use of pharmacotherapy and/or psychotherapy will be allowed.
Outcome results
None listed