Actively Recruiting
Social Support and Enhanced Fear Extinction
Led by University of California, Los Angeles · Updated on 2026-03-18
100
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
230 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of California, Los Angeles
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
University of California, Los Angeles researchers will recruit healthy participants and anxious participants (those diagnosed with social anxiety disorder) age 18-55 years old to participate in a study examining whether the ability of social support figure reminders to enhance the extinction of fear in healthy participants extends to those with anxiety disorders. After being recruited from the UCLA community (healthy participants, n = 50) or referred by treatment providers at the Anxiety and Depression Research Center at UCLA (anxious participants, n = 50) and undergoing a telephone screening and in-person screening, 100 participants will be enrolled in the study, with an expected recruited 150 to reach this number. During the experiment, all participants will undergo the same procedures: undergoing a fear extinction procedure in which threatening cues--cues that predict electric shock--will be paired with either an image of a social support figure (provided by participants) or an image of a smiling stranger. These pairings will be presented repeatedly in the absence of shock in order for fear extinction to occur. Participants will return for a follow-up test to determine if fear extinction was successful.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Social Support and Enhanced Fear Extinction
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults aged 18 to 55 years
- Fluent in English
- Healthy participants have no history of mental illness including anxiety, depression, phobia, or other mental health disorders diagnosed by a professional
- Anxious participants have a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder; co-morbid disorders allowed include depression, other anxiety disorders, and PTSD
You will not qualify if you...
- Pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study period
- Healthy participants with any chronic mental illness diagnosed by a physician or psychologist or using related medication
- Anxious participants with co-morbid bipolar disorder, psychosis, substance use disorder, neurological disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Current regular use of prescription medications related to mental health disorders
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
UCLA Department of Psychology
Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095-1563
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
E
Erica Hornstein, PhD
CONTACT
N
Naomi Eisenberger, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
1
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