Social Anxiety Disorder of ChildhoodNCT03932032

Targeting Attention Orienting to Social Threat to Reduce Social Anxiety in Youth

A study testing Attention Bias Modification Treatment in people with Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood, run by Florida International University at 2 sites in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record

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Trial summary

Who is it for?: Ages 10 to 14 years
Conditions the study is for: Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood
What is being tested?: Attention Bias Modification Treatment
Type of treatment: Lifestyle or therapy programme
Could I receive a placebo?: Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people: 206 participants
Where: 2 sitesUnited States
Study dates: 1 Jul 2019to 15 Jan 2026
Phase: Interventional
Are there results?: Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 10 to 14 years
All sexes
No healthy volunteers
Child

Who may be able to join

Be between ages 10 and 14 years
meet DSM5 criteria for a diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder
presence of any coexisting psychiatric diagnoses must be of lesser severity than Social Anxiety Disorder
have no current psychotropic medication other than a stable dose of stimulant or non-stimulant medication for coexisting ADHD

Who cannot join

meet DSM5 criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Bipolar Disorder, Tourette's Disorder, Psychotic Disorders, or Substance Use Disorders
show high likelihood of hurting self or others
be a victim of undisclosed abuse requiring investigation/ supervision by the Department of Social Services
have an uncorrected vision or physical disability that interferes with the ability to click a mouse button rapidly and repeatedly
have a history of neurological illness, including seizures/epilepsy, or head injury with loss of consciousness > 5 minutes

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

United States2 sites

Florida International University Center for Children and Families
Miami, Florida, 33199
Yale Child Study Center Program for Anxiety and Mood Disorders
New Haven, Connecticut, 06520

Other trials in United States

About this study

This two-site study is a test of Attention Bias Modification Treatment (ABMT) among 260 youths ages 10 to 14 years with social anxiety disorder. One-half of participants will receive 8 sessions of computer administered ABMT and the other half of participants will receive 8 sessions of computer administered Neutral Control Task (NCT). The investigators hypothesize that a biomarker of attention to social threat measured using electroencephalography (EEG) and ratings of social anxiety severity will be lower in participants who receive ABMT compared to participants who receive NCT.

Conditions: Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood
Being tested: Attention Bias Modification Treatment, Neutral Control Task

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Attention Bias Modification TreatmentBehavioural
At each of eight sessions, participants complete 160 computer administered trials wherein a pair of threatening stimuli and neutral stimuli is presented simultaneously and then followed immediately by a probe. The probe always replaces the neutral stimulus and never replaces the threatening stimulus. The intervention is based on the idea that attention can be shaped via repetitive computer based training methods, and training attention toward neutral stimuli will lead to a reduction in social anxiety.
Neutral Control TaskBehavioural
At each of eight sessions, participants complete 160 computer administered trials wherein a pair of neutral stimuli is presented simultaneously and then followed immediately by a probe. NCT matches ABMT on duration, format, and number of trials, but does not engage attention to social threat and does not train attention.

Study groups in NCT03932032
Study group	Role	What they receive
Attention Bias Modification Treatment	Experimental	Attention Bias Modification Treatment is a computer-based attention training program. Receives: Behavioral: Attention Bias Modification Treatment
Neutral Control Task	Sham comparator	Neutral Control Task uses the same computer-based format as Attention Bias Modification Treatment, but includes only neutral stimuli and does not train attention. Receives: Behavioral: Neutral Control Task

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

P1 Amplitude Elicited in the Dot-probe Task
Posttreatment event related potential amplitude elicited during the emotional faces dot probe task. The investigators focused specifically on the P1 amplitude time-locked to the onset of emotional facial stimuli in the dot probe task. P1 amplitude was measured using EEG methodology. Higher scores indicate greater allocation of neural resources when viewing stimuli in the dot probe task, which can be interpreted as an indicator of greater attention orientation to emotional facial stimuli.
Measured: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
P1 Amplitude Elicited in the Dot-probe Task
Follow-up P1 event related potential amplitude elicited during the emotional faces dot probe task. The investigators focused specifically on the P1 amplitude time-locked to the onset of emotional facial stimuli in the dot probe task. P1 amplitude was measured using EEG methodology. Higher scores indicate greater allocation of neural resources when viewing stimuli in the dot probe task, which can be interpreted as an indicator of greater attention orientation to emotional facial stimuli.
Measured: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)

Secondary outcomes (6)

Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents
posttreatment clinician rating of youth social anxiety symptom severity. A single rating is made to characterize overall social anxiety symptom severity aggregated over the past 7 days. The name of the measure is the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents. It is a clinician rated measure of the severity of youths' social anxiety symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 144, with higher scores representing more severe social anxiety.
Measured: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents
Follow-up clinician rating of youth social anxiety symptom severity. A single rating is made to characterize overall social anxiety symptom severity aggregated over the past 7 days. The name of the measure is the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents. It is a clinician rated measure of the severity of youths' social anxiety symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 144, with higher scores representing more severe social anxiety.
Measured: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Parent Version at Posttreatment
posttreatment parent rating of youth social anxiety symptom severity. A single rating is made to characterize overall social anxiety symptom severity aggregated over the past 7 days. The name of the measure is the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Parent Version (SCARED-P). The SCARED-P is a parent rated measure of the severity of youths' anxiety symptoms, including social anxiety. Total scores on the SCARED-P range from 0 to 82, with higher scores representing more severe anxiety.
Measured: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Parent Version at Follow up
follow up parent rating of youth social anxiety symptom severity. A single rating is made to characterize overall social anxiety symptom severity aggregated over the past 7 days. The name of the measure is the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Parent Version (SCARED-P). The SCARED-P is a parent rated measure of the severity of youths' anxiety symptoms, including social anxiety. Total scores on the SCARED-P range from 0 to 82, with higher scores representing more severe anxiety.
Measured: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Child Version at Posttreatment
posttreatment child rating of youth social anxiety symptom severity. A single rating is made to characterize overall social anxiety symptom severity aggregated over the past 7 days. The name of the measure is the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Child Version (SCARED-C). The SCARED-C is a child rated measure of the severity of youths' anxiety symptoms, including social anxiety. Total scores on the SCARED-C range from 0 to 82, with higher scores representing more severe anxiety.
Measured: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Child Version at Follow-Up
Follow up child rating of youth social anxiety symptom severity. A single rating is made to characterize overall social anxiety symptom severity aggregated over the past 7 days. The name of the measure is the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Child Version (SCARED-C). The SCARED-C is a child rated measure of the severity of youths' anxiety symptoms, including social anxiety. Total scores on the SCARED-C range from 0 to 82, with higher scores representing more severe anxiety.
Measured: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

1 Jul 201915 Jan 2026

First posted30 Apr 2019
Study start1 Jul 2019
Primary completion15 Jan 2026
Study completion15 Jan 2026

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
Other trials for Social Anxiety Disorder of ChildhoodStudies 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: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: Triple blind
Who is masked: Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment: 206 participants (actual)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03932032
Sponsor's protocol ID: R01MH119299
Status last verified: Aug 2026
First submitted: 26 Apr 2019
Last updated: 24 Sep 2026
Results posted: Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
Data monitoring committee: Yes
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No

Want to know more?

The sponsor has not listed a contact. The official record may have more details.

Talk to your doctor first and take this page with you. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

Questions to ask the study team

What is the study trying to find out?
What would I need to do, and how often would I visit?
Could I receive a placebo instead of the treatment?
What are the possible risks and benefits for me?
Will it cost me anything? Are travel or time paid for?
Can I keep seeing my own doctor during the study?
What happens when the study ends?

See locations

Active, not recruiting
Evaluation of Family-Based Behavioral Treatments for Youth With Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children, Anxiety Disorder of Childhood
Active, not recruiting
Comparative Effectiveness of Internet-based Versus Parent-Coached Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy For Children and Adolescents With Anxiety and OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Anxiety Disorder of Childhood or Adolescence
Active, not recruiting
Addressing Anxiety in 2-3-Year-Olds: A Pilot Intervention Study
Anxiety Disorder of Childhood, Fear
Enrolling by invitation
Impact of MBI on Biopsychosocial Factors and QOL in Children With Primary Headaches
Primary Headache, Psychological Distress
Active, not recruiting
The Community Youth Development Study: A Test of Communities That Care
Substance Abuse, Juvenile Delinquency

All Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood trials

Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: Targeting Attention Orienting to Social Threat to Reduce Social Anxiety in Youth
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03932032
Acronym / sponsor ID: R01MH119299
Conditions: Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood
Study type: Interventional
Recruitment status: Completed
Enrolment: 206 participants (actual)
Lead sponsor: Florida International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
Collaborators: Yale University
Study start: 1 Jul 2019 (actual)
Primary completion: 15 Jan 2026 (actual)
Study completion: 15 Jan 2026 (actual)
First posted: 30 Apr 2019 (actual)
Results: Posted 29 Apr 2026

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

Study design

Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: Triple blind (participant, care provider, outcomes assessor)
Number of arms: 2

Arm	Type	Receives
Attention Bias Modification Treatment	Experimental	Behavioral: Attention Bias Modification TreatmentAttention Bias Modification Treatment is a computer-based attention training program.
Neutral Control Task	Sham comparator	Behavioral: Neutral Control TaskNeutral Control Task uses the same computer-based format as Attention Bias Modification Treatment, but includes only neutral stimuli and does not train attention.

Who may qualify

Ages: 10 to 14 years
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Not accepted
Age groups: Child

Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)

Be between ages 10 and 14 years
meet DSM5 criteria for a diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder
presence of any coexisting psychiatric diagnoses must be of lesser severity than Social Anxiety Disorder
have no current psychotropic medication other than a stable dose of stimulant or non-stimulant medication for coexisting ADHD

Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)

meet DSM5 criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Bipolar Disorder, Tourette's Disorder, Psychotic Disorders, or Substance Use Disorders
show high likelihood of hurting self or others
be a victim of undisclosed abuse requiring investigation/ supervision by the Department of Social Services
have an uncorrected vision or physical disability that interferes with the ability to click a mouse button rapidly and repeatedly
have a history of neurological illness, including seizures/epilepsy, or head injury with loss of consciousness > 5 minutes

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
Attention Bias Modification TreatmentAt each of eight sessions, participants complete 160 computer administered trials wherein a pair of threatening stimuli and neutral stimuli is presented simultaneously and then followed immediately by a probe. The probe always replaces the neutral stimulus and never replaces the threatening stimulus. The intervention is based on the idea that attention can be shaped via repetitive computer based training methods, and training attention toward neutral stimuli will lead to a reduction in social anxiety.	Behavioural	Attention Bias Modification Treatment
Neutral Control TaskAt each of eight sessions, participants complete 160 computer administered trials wherein a pair of neutral stimuli is presented simultaneously and then followed immediately by a probe. NCT matches ABMT on duration, format, and number of trials, but does not engage attention to social threat and does not train attention.	Behavioural	Neutral Control Task

Primary outcome

P1 Amplitude Elicited in the Dot-probe Task
Time frame: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
Posttreatment event related potential amplitude elicited during the emotional faces dot probe task. The investigators focused specifically on the P1 amplitude time-locked to the onset of emotional facial stimuli in the dot probe task. P1 amplitude was measured using EEG methodology. Higher scores indicate greater allocation of neural resources when viewing stimuli in the dot probe task, which can be interpreted as an indicator of greater attention orientation to emotional facial stimuli.
P1 Amplitude Elicited in the Dot-probe Task
Time frame: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
Follow-up P1 event related potential amplitude elicited during the emotional faces dot probe task. The investigators focused specifically on the P1 amplitude time-locked to the onset of emotional facial stimuli in the dot probe task. P1 amplitude was measured using EEG methodology. Higher scores indicate greater allocation of neural resources when viewing stimuli in the dot probe task, which can be interpreted as an indicator of greater attention orientation to emotional facial stimuli.

6 secondary outcomes

Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents
Time frame: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents
Time frame: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Parent Version at Posttreatment
Time frame: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Parent Version at Follow up
Time frame: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Child Version at Posttreatment
Time frame: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders - Child Version at Follow-Up
Time frame: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session)

Results and safety

Results posted to the registry on 29 Apr 2026, as reported by the sponsor. Figures are copied from the record, not re-analysed. Full results on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Participant flow

Group	Started	Completed
Attention Bias Modification Treatment	104	97
Neutral Control Task	102	89

Primary outcome: P1 Amplitude Elicited in the Dot-probe Task

Time frame: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session). Mean (Standard Deviation). Unit: microvolts

Measure	Attention Bias Modification Treatment n = 97	Neutral Control Task n = 89
Value	7.04 (4.85)	5.61 (4.34)

Primary outcome: P1 Amplitude Elicited in the Dot-probe Task

Time frame: Follow-up (six months after completing the final treatment session). Mean (Standard Deviation). Unit: microvolts

Measure	Attention Bias Modification Treatment n = 97	Neutral Control Task n = 89
Value	5.64 (4.34)	4.98 (4.52)

6 secondary outcomes are reported in the full results.

Adverse events

Time frame: from enrollment until end of follow-up at 6 months. Other adverse events reported at 0% frequency or more

Group	Serious adverse events	Other adverse events	Deaths
Attention Bias Modification Treatment	0 of 104 (0%)	0 of 104 (0%)	0 of 104
Neutral Control Task	0 of 102 (0%)	0 of 102 (0%)	0 of 102

Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Sep 2026.
Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.

Related trials for Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood

Active, not recruiting
Evaluation of Family-Based Behavioral Treatments for Youth With Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children, Anxiety Disorder of Childhood
Active, not recruiting
Comparative Effectiveness of Internet-based Versus Parent-Coached Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy For Children and Adolescents With Anxiety and OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Anxiety Disorder of Childhood or Adolescence
Active, not recruiting
Addressing Anxiety in 2-3-Year-Olds: A Pilot Intervention Study
Anxiety Disorder of Childhood, Fear
Enrolling by invitation
Impact of MBI on Biopsychosocial Factors and QOL in Children With Primary Headaches
Primary Headache, Psychological Distress
Active, not recruiting
The Community Youth Development Study: A Test of Communities That Care
Substance Abuse, Juvenile Delinquency

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.

Jeremy W Pettit, PhD principal investigator

Florida International University

Wendy K Silverman, PhD principal investigator

Yale University

2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Attention Bias Modification Treatment in people with Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood, run by Florida International University at 2 sites 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 4 inclusion and 5 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 29 Apr 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

P1 Amplitude Elicited in the Dot-probe Task (time frame: post-intervention (within one week of completing the final treatment session)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT03932032.

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 24 Sep 2026.