Social Anxiety DisorderNCT03240003
A Novel Computer-Based Therapy for Social Anxiety
A study testing GC-MRT, modified GC-MRT and Non-GC-MRT in people with Social Anxiety Disorder, run by New York State Psychiatric Institute at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The present study is a double blind trial that seeks to examine the feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, and mechanism of a recently developed eye-tracking-based therapy (GC-MRT) in individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- What is being tested?
- GC-MRT, modified GC-MRT and Non-GC-MRT
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 25 Aug 2017to 1 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Males and females between the ages of 18 and 60
- Current DSM-V primary diagnosis of SAD
- Score of at least 50 on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (Self-rated version)
- Fluent in English and willing and able to give informed written consent and participate responsibly in the protocol
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
Who cannot join
- Present or past psychotic episode, psychotic disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder
- Current severe depression
- Suicidal ideation or behavior
- Current diagnosis of PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, manic episode or tic disorder
- Current or past organic mental disorder, seizure disorder, epilepsy or brain injury
- Current unstable or untreated medical illness
Show all 13Show fewer
- Severe alcohol use disorder, severe cannabis use disorder, and any severity of other substance use disorder (except nicotine use disorders allowed)
- Use of psychiatric medication in the past month other than a stable dose of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for a least 3 months
- Any concurrent cognitive behavioral therapy; other psychotherapy that was initiated in the past 3 months
- Pregnancy, or plans to become pregnant during the period of the study - will be assessed by Urine β-HCG
- Contraindication to MRI scanning:
- Paramagnetic metallic implants or devices contraindicating magnetic resonance imaging or any other non-removable paramagnetic metal in the body (e.g. pacemaker, paramagnetic metallic prosthesis, surgical clips, shrapnel, necessity for constant medicinal patch, some tattoos)
- Being unable to tolerate the scanning procedures (i.e., severe obesity, claustrophobia)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
New York State Psychiatric Institute
New York, New York, 10032
About this study
The present study is a double blind trial that seeks to examine the feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, and mechanism of a recently developed eye-tracking-based therapy (GC-MRT) in individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD)
Read the detailed description
The present study is a double blind trial that seeks to examine the feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, and mechanism of a recently developed eye-tracking-based therapy (GC-MRT) in individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD). The purpose of this study is to assess whether a brief computer-based research treatment, provided in 30 minutes sessions twice a week for 4 weeks, helps improve social anxiety symptoms, and by what mechanism. The study will also assess the effect of research treatments on brain activity using a scan called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Conditions
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Being tested
- GC-MRT, modified GC-MRT, Non-GC-MRT
- Keywords
- Social Anxiety, Social Anxiety Disorder, SAD
- Medical subject headings
- Phobia, Social
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
GC-MRTBehavioural
Group 1 will receive a 4-week (8-sessions) course of GC-MRT
modified GC-MRTBehavioural
group 3 will receive a 4-week (8-sessions) course of GC-MRT, modified
Non-GC-MRTBehavioural
Group 2 will receive a 4-week (8-sessions) course of non-GC-MRT
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| GC-MRT | Experimental | Group 1 will receive a 4-week (8-sessions) course of standard GC-MRT Receives: Behavioral: GC-MRT |
| non-GC-MRT | Active comparator | Group 2 will receive a 4-week (8-sessions) course of non-GC-MRT Receives: Behavioral: Non-GC-MRT |
| GC-MRT-modified | Experimental | Group 3 will receive a 4-week (8-sessions) course of modified GC-MRT. Receives: Behavioral: modified GC-MRT |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale
Total score of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale
Measured: 4 months
Secondary outcomes (6)
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
The Social Phobia Inventory (abbreviated as SPIN) is a self-rated questionnaire that will be used to assess severity of social anxiety Disorder. 17 items related to social anxiety each rated on a score of 0 to 4, with a minimum total score of 0 (least social anxiety), and a maximum total score of 68 (most social anxiety).
Measured: 4 months
Quality of Life Enjoyment & Satisfaction Questionnaire
Quality of Life Enjoyment \& Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q): self-rated assessment of quality of life. 16 items related to life quality, each rated on a score of 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good), with a minimum total score of 16, and a maximum total score of 80.
Measured: 4 months
Revised Social Anhedonia Scale
40-item self-rated social anhedonia scale. Items are comprised of statements that participants agree or disagree with, by answering "yes"(1), or "no"(0), with some items reverse-coded. The minimum score is 0 (least social anhedonia); maximum score is 40 (most social anhedonia).
Measured: 4 months
Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale
Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). Fourteen-item self-rated anhedonia scale. Items were comprised of statements that participants rated as "strongly disagree" (1), "disagree" (2), "agree" (3), or "strongly agree" (4). The lowest possible score was 14, the highest possible score was 56 (greatest anhedonia)
Measured: 4 months
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression - 17 item version
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression -17 item version. This standard scale will be used to assess severity of depression, minimum score is 0 (least depression); maximum score is 50 (greatest depression).
Measured: 4 months
Clinical Global Impression-Change Scale
Clinical Global Impression-Change Scale: A quickly administered and widely used observer rating, with rating from 1 (very much improved) to 7 (very much worse). Responder category is defined by a score of 1 or 2.
Measured: 4 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Aug 2017
- Study start25 Aug 2017
- Primary completion1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Why it stopped: funding unavailable
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (14)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Social Anxiety DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- New York State Psychiatric Institute
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Franklin Schneier, New York State Psychiatric Institute
- Investigators
- Franklin Schneier, MD, Principal investigator, NYSPI
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03240003
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 7527 (SAD)
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Jul 2017
- Last updated
- 4 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Chevallier C, Tonge N, Safra L, Kahn D, Kohls G, Miller J, Schultz RT. Measuring Social Motivation Using Signal Detection and Reward Responsiveness. PLoS One. 2016 Dec 1;11(12):e0167024. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167024. eCollection 2016.
PubMed 27907025Cisler JM, Koster EH. Mechanisms of attentional biases towards threat in anxiety disorders: An integrative review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2010 Mar;30(2):203-16. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2009.11.003. Epub 2009 Dec 14.
PubMed 20005616Gur RC, Schroeder L, Turner T, McGrath C, Chan RM, Turetsky BI, Alsop D, Maldjian J, Gur RE. Brain activation during facial emotion processing. Neuroimage. 2002 Jul;16(3 Pt 1):651-62. doi: 10.1006/nimg.2002.1097.
PubMed 12169250Heeren A, Mogoase C, Philippot P, McNally RJ. Attention bias modification for social anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev. 2015 Aug;40:76-90. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2015.06.001. Epub 2015 Jun 6.
PubMed 26080314Klumpp H, Angstadt M, Phan KL. Shifting the focus of attention modulates amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex reactivity to emotional faces. Neurosci Lett. 2012 Apr 18;514(2):210-3. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2012.03.003. Epub 2012 Mar 8.
PubMed 22425719Klumpp H, Post D, Angstadt M, Fitzgerald DA, Phan KL. Anterior cingulate cortex and insula response during indirect and direct processing of emotional faces in generalized social anxiety disorder. Biol Mood Anxiety Disord. 2013 Apr 2;3:7. doi: 10.1186/2045-5380-3-7. eCollection 2013.
PubMed 23547713Lazarov A, Abend R, Bar-Haim Y. Social anxiety is related to increased dwell time on socially threatening faces. J Affect Disord. 2016 Mar 15;193:282-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.01.007. Epub 2016 Jan 12.
PubMed 26774515Lazarov A, Pine DS, Bar-Haim Y. Gaze-Contingent Music Reward Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2017 Jul 1;174(7):649-656. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.16080894. Epub 2017 Jan 20.
PubMed 28103714Linetzky M, Pergamin-Hight L, Pine DS, Bar-Haim Y. Quantitative evaluation of the clinical efficacy of attention bias modification treatment for anxiety disorders. Depress Anxiety. 2015 Jun;32(6):383-91. doi: 10.1002/da.22344. Epub 2015 Feb 24.
PubMed 25708991Mogoase C, David D, Koster EH. Clinical efficacy of attentional bias modification procedures: an updated meta-analysis. J Clin Psychol. 2014 Dec;70(12):1133-57. doi: 10.1002/jclp.22081. Epub 2014 Mar 20.
PubMed 24652823Morrison AS, Heimberg RG. Social anxiety and social anxiety disorder. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2013;9:249-74. doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185631.
PubMed 23537485Richey JA, Rittenberg A, Hughes L, Damiano CR, Sabatino A, Miller S, Hanna E, Bodfish JW, Dichter GS. Common and distinct neural features of social and non-social reward processing in autism and social anxiety disorder. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2014 Mar;9(3):367-77. doi: 10.1093/scan/nss146. Epub 2012 Dec 7.
PubMed 23223206Spreckelmeyer KN, Krach S, Kohls G, Rademacher L, Irmak A, Konrad K, Kircher T, Grunder G. Anticipation of monetary and social reward differently activates mesolimbic brain structures in men and women. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2009 Jun;4(2):158-65. doi: 10.1093/scan/nsn051. Epub 2009 Jan 27.
PubMed 19174537Van Bockstaele B, Verschuere B, Tibboel H, De Houwer J, Crombez G, Koster EH. A review of current evidence for the causal impact of attentional bias on fear and anxiety. Psychol Bull. 2014 May;140(3):682-721. doi: 10.1037/a0034834. Epub 2013 Nov 4.
PubMed 24188418
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Novel Computer-Based Therapy for Social Anxiety
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03240003
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 7527 (SAD)
- Conditions
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Keywords
- Social Anxiety, Social Anxiety Disorder, SAD
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- SuspendedReason stopped: funding unavailable
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- New York State Psychiatric InstituteUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 25 Aug 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Aug 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The present study is a double blind trial that seeks to examine the feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, and mechanism of a recently developed eye-tracking-based therapy (GC-MRT) in individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD)
Detailed description
The present study is a double blind trial that seeks to examine the feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, and mechanism of a recently developed eye-tracking-based therapy (GC-MRT) in individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD). The purpose of this study is to assess whether a brief computer-based research treatment, provided in 30 minutes sessions twice a week for 4 weeks, helps improve social anxiety symptoms, and by what mechanism. The study will also assess the effect of research treatments on brain activity using a scan called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| GC-MRT | Experimental | Behavioral: GC-MRTGroup 1 will receive a 4-week (8-sessions) course of standard GC-MRT |
| non-GC-MRT | Active comparator | Behavioral: Non-GC-MRTGroup 2 will receive a 4-week (8-sessions) course of non-GC-MRT |
| GC-MRT-modified | Experimental | Behavioral: modified GC-MRTGroup 3 will receive a 4-week (8-sessions) course of modified GC-MRT. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Males and females between the ages of 18 and 60
- Current DSM-V primary diagnosis of SAD
- Score of at least 50 on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (Self-rated version)
- Fluent in English and willing and able to give informed written consent and participate responsibly in the protocol
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)
- Present or past psychotic episode, psychotic disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder
- Current severe depression
- Suicidal ideation or behavior
- Current diagnosis of PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, manic episode or tic disorder
- Current or past organic mental disorder, seizure disorder, epilepsy or brain injury
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| GC-MRTGroup 1 will receive a 4-week (8-sessions) course of GC-MRT | Behavioural | GC-MRT |
| modified GC-MRTgroup 3 will receive a 4-week (8-sessions) course of GC-MRT, modified | Behavioural | GC-MRT-modified |
| Non-GC-MRTGroup 2 will receive a 4-week (8-sessions) course of non-GC-MRT | Behavioural | non-GC-MRT |
Primary outcome
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale
Time frame: 4 months
Total score of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale
6 secondary outcomes
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
Time frame: 4 months
Quality of Life Enjoyment & Satisfaction Questionnaire
Time frame: 4 months
Revised Social Anhedonia Scale
Time frame: 4 months
Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale
Time frame: 4 months
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression - 17 item version
Time frame: 4 months
Clinical Global Impression-Change Scale
Time frame: 4 months
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Feb 2026.
- Background: PubMed 27907025Chevallier C, Tonge N, Safra L, Kahn D, Kohls G, Miller J, Schultz RT. Measuring Social Motivation Using Signal Detection and Reward Responsiveness. PLoS One. 2016 Dec 1;11(12):e0167024. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167024. eCollection 2016.
- Background: PubMed 20005616Cisler JM, Koster EH. Mechanisms of attentional biases towards threat in anxiety disorders: An integrative review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2010 Mar;30(2):203-16. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2009.11.003. Epub 2009 Dec 14.
- Background: PubMed 12169250Gur RC, Schroeder L, Turner T, McGrath C, Chan RM, Turetsky BI, Alsop D, Maldjian J, Gur RE. Brain activation during facial emotion processing. Neuroimage. 2002 Jul;16(3 Pt 1):651-62. doi: 10.1006/nimg.2002.1097.
- Background: PubMed 26080314Heeren A, Mogoase C, Philippot P, McNally RJ. Attention bias modification for social anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev. 2015 Aug;40:76-90. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2015.06.001. Epub 2015 Jun 6.
- Background: PubMed 22425719Klumpp H, Angstadt M, Phan KL. Shifting the focus of attention modulates amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex reactivity to emotional faces. Neurosci Lett. 2012 Apr 18;514(2):210-3. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2012.03.003. Epub 2012 Mar 8.
- Background: PubMed 23547713Klumpp H, Post D, Angstadt M, Fitzgerald DA, Phan KL. Anterior cingulate cortex and insula response during indirect and direct processing of emotional faces in generalized social anxiety disorder. Biol Mood Anxiety Disord. 2013 Apr 2;3:7. doi: 10.1186/2045-5380-3-7. eCollection 2013.
- Background: PubMed 26774515Lazarov A, Abend R, Bar-Haim Y. Social anxiety is related to increased dwell time on socially threatening faces. J Affect Disord. 2016 Mar 15;193:282-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.01.007. Epub 2016 Jan 12.
- Background: PubMed 28103714Lazarov A, Pine DS, Bar-Haim Y. Gaze-Contingent Music Reward Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2017 Jul 1;174(7):649-656. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.16080894. Epub 2017 Jan 20.
- Background: PubMed 25708991Linetzky M, Pergamin-Hight L, Pine DS, Bar-Haim Y. Quantitative evaluation of the clinical efficacy of attention bias modification treatment for anxiety disorders. Depress Anxiety. 2015 Jun;32(6):383-91. doi: 10.1002/da.22344. Epub 2015 Feb 24.
- Background: PubMed 24652823Mogoase C, David D, Koster EH. Clinical efficacy of attentional bias modification procedures: an updated meta-analysis. J Clin Psychol. 2014 Dec;70(12):1133-57. doi: 10.1002/jclp.22081. Epub 2014 Mar 20.
- Background: PubMed 23537485Morrison AS, Heimberg RG. Social anxiety and social anxiety disorder. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2013;9:249-74. doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185631.
- Background: PubMed 23223206Richey JA, Rittenberg A, Hughes L, Damiano CR, Sabatino A, Miller S, Hanna E, Bodfish JW, Dichter GS. Common and distinct neural features of social and non-social reward processing in autism and social anxiety disorder. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2014 Mar;9(3):367-77. doi: 10.1093/scan/nss146. Epub 2012 Dec 7.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Franklin Schneier, MD principal investigator
NYSPI
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing GC-MRT, modified GC-MRT and Non-GC-MRT in people with Social Anxiety Disorder, run by New York State Psychiatric Institute at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: paused, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (time frame: 4 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03240003, which also lists 14 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Feb 2026.