Online Radical Acceptance vs Relaxation Skills for Adults with Social Anxiety Disorder A Randomized Controlled Study

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a self-guided online Radical Acceptance program adapted from Dialectical Behavior Therapy DBT to see if it helps reduce symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder in adults. The study compares this program to an online Relaxation Skills program, also based on DBT, to determine which approach may be more helpful. The trial involves 100 adults who have been diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder and aims to understand changes in symptoms and underlying emotional processing. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two online programs. One group receives Radical Acceptance training focused on accepting difficult thoughts and feelings during social situations, delivered through six guided exercises over two weeks. The other group receives Relaxation Skills training that teaches methods like temperature control, intense exercise, and paced breathing to reduce emotional arousal, also through six guided exercises over two weeks. Both programs include culturally adapted video sessions followed by brief discussions to ensure understanding. All study activities occur online, including eligibility screening via interviews and diagnostic assessments. Participants complete a baseline learning session plus six short home practice sessions within two weeks. They answer surveys about symptoms and complete brief computer tasks at multiple points, including after session four, at the end of treatment, and during follow-ups at three weeks and three months. Researchers measure social anxiety symptoms, anxiety and depression levels, as well as emotional regulation mechanisms throughout the study.

Online Radical Acceptance Intervention for Social Anxiety Disorder