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Ear-Zapping device may tame social anxiety — trial puts it to the test

NCT ID NCT07772401

Symptom relief Sponsor: Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Aug 19, 2026 · Last updated Aug 20, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether a device that sends mild electrical pulses to the ear — a method called transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) — can reduce symptoms of social anxiety disorder. About 100 adults with the condition will receive either real taVNS or a sham (inactive) version, with sessions twice daily for 8 weeks. Researchers will measure changes in social anxiety scores and track any side effects to see if this drug-free approach is safe and effective.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), a device that delivers mild electrical pulses to the ear to stimulate the vagus nerve
What this could lead to
If it works, taVNS could offer a drug-free, low-side-effect option for people with social anxiety disorder, potentially easing symptoms like fear and avoidance in social situations.
What could go wrong
This is an early-stage trial, so results may not hold up in larger studies. The treatment may cause discomfort or side effects, and its benefit over a placebo (sham) device is not yet proven.

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

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 100 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

May 2026

Expected to finish

Dec 2026

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 70 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: Fulfillment of the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). A Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) score of ≥30 and a Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) score of ≥4. Age between 18 and 70 years. Voluntary provision of written informed consent. If on psychotropic medications, maintenance of a stable dose for at least six weeks prior to enrollment. Exclusion Criteria: A lifetime history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Any cognitive impairments that could interfere with the study. Significant suicidal ideation or behavior within the past six months. Patients with rapidly deteriorating conditions. Previous taVNS treatment within the past month. Contraindications to auricular vagus nerve stimulation, such as ear infections, inflammation, skin lesions, or hypersensitivity of the ear. Presence of a pacemaker or other implanted medical devices, or severe neurological, renal, cardiovascular, or hepatic diseases. Concurrent engagement in any form of psychotherapy. History of substance or alcohol abuse. Inability to comply with psychological assessments. Incapable of providing informed consent. Pregnant or lactating. Other reasons as deemed unsuitable for inclusion by the research team.

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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 Social fear

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311500, China

  • The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine

    RECRUITING

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311500, China

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