Efficacy of Attention Bias Modification vs. Placebo for Social Anxiety Disorder

This study examines whether a computerized attention-training intervention called attention bias modification (ABM) can reduce symptoms of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in adults, and whether symptom improvement is specifically related to changes in attentional processing or to nonspecific factors such as expectancy and placebo effects.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18-65 years * Primary diagnosis of generalized Social Anxiety Disorder based on clinical evaluation, the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), and a Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) score greater than 50 * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision without color blindness * Sufficient Hebrew proficiency to complete clinical interviews, self-report questionnaires, and computerized cognitive tasks Exclusion Criteria: * Previous participation in attention bias modification training using a dot-probe task * Previous participation in eye-tracking-based attention training * Current diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder * Current or past diagnosis of psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder * Neurological disorder (e.g., epilepsy or traumatic brain injury) * Severe suicidal ideation * Current substance or alcohol use disorder * Concurrent pharmacological or psychosocial treatment, unless medication has been stable for at least 45 days * Pregnancy * Uncorrected visual impairment or use of multifocal glasses