The efficacy of an Internet-based attention modification intervention on reducing social anxiety in student with social anxiety disorder: a clinical trial

to investigate the effect of a computer intervention on reducing attention bias to negative social stimuli

Clinical trial with control group, with parallel groups, double-blind, randomized using Sealed Envelope Ltd Online Randomization Service. 2019, 60 patients.

1. Coding of computer tasks and designing website. 2. Allocation of patients in Guilan University to one of two study groups using block randomization. The participants and the assistant evaluating the outcome variables will be unaware of the group type. The location of study is the counseling center of Guilan University. 3. Measurement of outcome variables at pre- and post-assessment, and two-month follow-up and participation in 8 online sessions of Attention Bias Modification Program

Inclusion: having social anxiety score above 30 in LSAS. Exclusion: having any severe mental and/or organic disorders affecting on the research, and receiving psychological treatment in last 6 months or medication in last 3 months

A computer intervention called Attention Bias Modification Program, which is designed to reduce attention bias to negative stimuli, will be implemented on students with clinical social anxiety. In this program, two neutral and anger facial images are repeatedly displayed on the computer screen, and the participant must quickly and accurately identify type of probe (> or <) that appear in location of neutral face. The only difference between control group and the intervention group is that because in its computer program, instead of two negative and neutral faces, only one neutral face is used, so the participant does not pay attention to the neutral in the presence of the negative stimulus.

Social anxiety and attention bias to negative stimuli

All eligible people will be divided into intervention and control groups using the block randomization method with the size of blocks of 4 and 6. To generate randomization list, online randomization service of Sealed Envelope Ltd. 2019 will be used (https://www.sealedenvelope.com/simple-randomiser/v(۱/lists). Concealment is done through sealed opaque envelopes in a random sequence. Preparing these envelopes and determining the sequence of random allocation is done by a researcher who has no knowledge or connection with the participants. In the first in-person meeting with each participant, the researcher, who did not participate in determining the sequence of random allocation and does not know the type of participant's group, provides the participant with the previously prepared envelope. In this way, the researcher evaluating the outcome variables as well as the participants will be unaware of the group type.

Participants will be unaware of their group type. Also, a researcher who divides the participants into two study groups, implements the measurement tools before starting the treatment (pre-test) and re-implements the same tools after the treatment is completed (post-test), will not know the type of the participants' group. In the explanation of the research, the participants will be told that "the present study is to be conducted in order to investigate the efficacy of a computer-based treatment for social anxiety and they will be randomly assigned to one of the two study groups, and depending on their group, they will complete one of the two computer-based programs; one of these programs is designed to treat social anxiety, but the other program is not designed to reduce social anxiety and may have a placebo effect."

At the moment, we have not decided to share the data, however, if there is a request from the researchers, it will be made available.