Social Stress Test for Social Anxiety

(SSBI Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By A. Eden Evins, MD, MPH

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Must not be taking: Beta-blockers, Benzodiazepines, Cannabis

Disqualifiers: Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Diabetes, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

50 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to examine whether experiencing a social stressor prior to the collection of neuroimaging measures is associated with differences in brain activation in healthy participants.

Research Team

John Gabrieli, PhD

Principal Investigator

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for healthy English-speaking adults aged 18-55 who can consent to participate. They must be right-handed, not pregnant, drug-free, and without significant mental health issues or severe medical conditions. Participants should not have used certain medications recently and must pass a social anxiety scale test.

Inclusion Criteria

Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent

Current medications are stable for past 30 days (no changes to dose or frequency)

Sufficiently fluent in English to participate in the trial

Exclusion Criteria

History of any traumatic brain injury

History of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, delusional disorders

I have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Participants are randomized to either experience the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or watch a nature film prior to undergoing fMRI

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any immediate effects post-intervention

1 day

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)

Trial Overview The study is testing how experiencing social stress affects brain activity in healthy individuals. It uses the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) followed by neuroimaging to observe changes in brain activation patterns.

Participant Groups

Group I: Film + TSST Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Nature Film + Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)

Group II: Film Only (No-TSST) Active Control 1 Intervention

Nature Film Only

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Lead Sponsor

Trials

104

Recruited

12,810,000+

Massachusetts General Hospital

Collaborator

Trials

3,066

Recruited

13,430,000+