The study will test the efficacy of propranolol or placebo, administered after retrieval of a previously acquired public speaking fear, in reducing fear and avoidance of public speaking.
Twenty subjects with Performance-Only type of Social Anxiety Disorder will be enrolled in the study. Participants will complete baseline assessments of fear and avoidance of public speaking. Participants will be randomly assigned to a single dose of propranolol 40mg or placebo, administered immediately after a fear activation procedure. Primary outcome assessment will be self-reported fear of public speaking and avoidance behavior in a behavioral avoidance task 2 weeks after the intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
6
active treatment
inactive pill
New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive
New York, New York, United States
Personal Report of Confidence as a Speaker
total score on this self report measure of fear of public speaking. Scored from 0-30, with higher scores indicating better outcome
Time frame: 2 weeks
Behavioral Avoidance Task
Up to 5 sequential public speaking challenges, specifically designed for each step to be of increasing difficulty for the individual. Each step is considered completed if subject agrees to try speaking, and speaks for 1 minute. Score is total number of completed steps (0-5) on this 5-step task, with 5 being best
Time frame: 2 weeks
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