Facial Microexpression Training for Anxiety Disorders
This study is evaluating whether a computer task may help improve visual system function in individuals with high trait anxiety.
See full descriptionAbout the trial for Anxiety Disorders
Treatment Groups
This trial involves 2 different treatments. Facial Microexpression Training is the primary treatment being studied. Participants will be divided into 2 treatment groups. There is no placebo group. The treatments being tested are not being studied for commercial purposes.
Eligibility
This trial is for patients born any sex between 18 and 65 years old. There are 2 eligibility criteria to participate in this trial as listed below.
Approximate Timelines
Measurement Requirements
This trial is evaluating whether Facial Microexpression Training will improve 1 primary outcome in patients with Anxiety Disorders. Measurement will happen over the course of six or twelve months post-scan visit.
Who is running the study
Principal InvestigatorPatient Q & A Section
How does facial microexpression training work?
Microexpression-based training was shown to produce a transient but statistically significant improvement in the quality-of-life of anxiety-afflicted subjects, demonstrating the short-lived clinical benefit of a minimally-districtive and inexpensive form of biofeedback.
What causes anxiety disorders?
Anxiety tends to be under- or over-diagnosed. If the anxiety symptoms cannot be adequately addressed by the patient or clinician, the disorder could be treated as, "any chronic physical pain," which can then lead the patient to worry about the cause of his or her pain, and the "vigilance-avoidance" pattern. Anxiety is a symptom of many disorders.
What are common treatments for anxiety disorders?
The most common treatments for anxiety disorders include medications, psychotherapy, and behavioral interventions. Many of these methods are widely available, particularly behavioral therapies. Some common medicines used to treat anxiety disorders include the antidepressants mirtazapine, sertraline, escitalopram, and venlafaxine, as well as antihistamines like diphenhydramine. Medications for insomnia might be used, but further research is needed on which sleep medications are most helpful. In some cases, psychotherapy may be the most effective strategy of treatment. Overall, treatments focus on lowering anxiety and/or helping people deal with their symptoms and worry and build new, often healthier coping skills.
What are the signs of anxiety disorders?
While there are no signs of OCD, they may have some [specific signs] that could be a part of their disorder. Some common signs of anxiety disorders include shaking hands violently, having to take more care with washing clothes, having thoughts of death or suicide, experiencing trouble getting through certain situations, feeling as though someone is watching you, or feeling like you're in a panic. You can use Power to join a clinical trial that could help with treatment for your anxiety disorder.
Can anxiety disorders be cured?
Anxiety disorders can persist after psychiatric treatment and disability from the disorder can lead to poor work and personal adjustment. A better understanding of the underlying processes and the development of an effective treatment plan that considers these factors may aid in the resolution of anxiety disorders.
What is anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders are a group of disorders that can affect your emotional, behavioral and physical well-being. Anxiety disorders can be treated, even if no single treatment is effective in all cases, through psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy.
How many people get anxiety disorders a year in the United States?
Approximately 40 million US adults have one of the four most disabling anxiety disorders in the United States. Anxiety disorders make up about 12% of the US adult population. Approximately one in seven adults in the US, around 20 million US adults, have at least one anxiety disorder each year. Anxiety disorders, especially generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, are among the most important causes of disability and suffering to US adults. The cost attributable to anxiety disorders alone is approximately $2 billion per year in the US adult population alone. In 2007, there were about 20 million US children with anxiety disorders. About 9 million US adults and 2.5 million US children in the US have anxiety disorders.
Who should consider clinical trials for anxiety disorders?
There is a need for more education concerning the feasibility of psychiatric comorbidity for clinical trials and for improved communication between clinical trialists and the psychiatric community to foster participation.
Is facial microexpression training safe for people?
In clinical trials, FMT has appeared to be highly tolerable on the facial expression-driven subjective measures of perceived emotion processing assessed. While not powered to demonstrate changes pre-post, findings indicate that, at least in the short-term, FMT has good and tolerable safety profile for facial emotion decoding. This preliminary work demonstrates that the FMT treatment is safe to administer in such clinical trials for those who have severe emotional disorders.
Have there been any new discoveries for treating anxiety disorders?
The discoveries in anxiety disorders do reflect advances in understanding the neurological basis of the disease, with implications for advancing psychiatric therapies. The progress in this area continues as the last section of articles is published.
What are the common side effects of facial microexpression training?
Facial microexpression training was well tolerated and highly effective at reducing the intensity of anxiety symptoms. The present results provide evidence that facial microexpression training can also help people who struggle socially because of anxiety.
What is facial microexpression training?
This is the first study that describes facial microexpression training for detecting and evaluating anxiety in a non-pharmacological and nonreferral mode of treatment. It is considered effective as treatment option and as an indicator of possible anxiety reduction. Thus, facial microexpression training is proposed to be incorporated in the clinical management of patients with anxiety disorders (mainly panic disorder).