D-Cycloserine Enhancement of Exposure in Social Phobia

Summary

The purpose of this study is to test a drug called d-cycloserine to see if it can help people with a condition called social phobia. Social phobia is also called "social anxiety disorder." Social phobia is a constant fear of social or performance situations. Social situations include group gatherings of any kind. Performance situations might include times when a person would have to do something in public, such as speak up in class or at a meeting. A person with this condition worries about being embarrassed, or about other people's opinions. People with social phobia usually feel extremely anxious (nervous and worried) about being the focus of attention. They often avoid social and performance situations. This behavior can have a negative effect on the quality of their lives and relationships.

In this study, we want to find out if d-cycloserine can help control social phobia when the drug is added to the standard treatment for this condition. The standard treatment is cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). CBT is a form of talk therapy involving discussion with a therapist, along with practicing the feelings or events that the person finds frightening.

Conditions

• Social Anxiety Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy (CBGT)

The patient will then receive 12 weekly sessions of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy lasting approximately two and a half hours each. During these sessions, patients will receive information on the nature of social phobia and a model of treatment and will receive weekly training in how to become more comfortable with social situations, with the goal of achieving confidence in social interactions. As part of this training, the therapist will practice social interactions with the patient, who will also be asked to practice what they have learned outside of the therapists' office.

DRUG

D-Cycloserine

For the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh sessions of the twelve-session program of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the patient will be asked to arrive one hour early to take one of the study pill, a 50mg pill of d-cycloserine. A physician will be available in the unlikely event that a patient begins to experience side effects. Before the treatment starts, before the eighth session, and one week after the final session patients will have a separate visit in which their levels of symptoms assessed with measures of mood, anxiety, and avoidance.

DRUG

Placebo

For the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh sessions of the twelve-session program of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the patient will be asked to arrive one hour early to take one of the study pill, a placebo. A physician will be available in the unlikely event that a patient begins to experience side effects. Before the treatment starts, before the eighth session, and one week after the final session patients will have a separate visit in which their levels of symptoms assessed with measures of mood, anxiety, and avoidance.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Boston University

  collaborator OTHER

• Southern Methodist University

  collaborator OTHER

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  collaborator NIH

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  collaborator NIH

• Massachusetts General Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mark H Pollack, MD · [email protected]

• Stefan Hofmann · [email protected]

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2007-03-31

Primary Completion

2012-03-31

Completion

2012-09-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations