Can a phone app ease social anxiety? new study investigates

NCT ID NCT04622930

Terminated Symptom relief Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether a smartphone app that delivers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help adults with social anxiety disorder. Participants use the app for 12 weeks, learning skills like cognitive restructuring and exposure exercises. The trial compares app users to a waitlist group to see if the app reduces social anxiety symptoms.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Smartphone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) app
What this could lead to: If effective, this app could provide a convenient, accessible treatment option for social anxiety disorder, reducing symptoms without needing in-person therapy.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage trial with a small sample and a waitlist control, so results may not generalize. The app may not work as well as in-person therapy, and some people may not engage with it.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

social phobia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.