Quantifying Multi-step Avoidance in Anxiety

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders

In brief

This study aims to learn more about avoidance behavior in people with anxiety, using mathematical models of decision-making processes and decoded neural signals of threat imminence. Researchers are investigating anxiety-related behavior and brain function in people with and without anxiety. Investigators are also looking at how behavior and brain function during tasks in the lab relate to avoidance in their daily lives. The investigators will also test whether changing how people avoid things in a behavioral task affects how people avoid things in their everyday life.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07203027

Run by

Emory University

People needed

163

Starts

2027-01-01

Expected to finish

2030-06-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-07

Who can join

Age: 22 and older, up to 55. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Ability to comprehend written and spoken English
• Ability to provide informed consent
• Estimated intelligence quotient (IQ) >70.
• Clinically significant anxiety symptoms (scoring above clinical cutoff on at least one Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (IDAS) anxiety-related subscale and/or OASIS total)
• Significant anxiety-related avoidance (scoring 2 or above on a 0-4 scale, indicating at least "occasional" avoidance) on the avoidance-related question on the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS)
• Functional impairment, defined as at least moderate impairment in one WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) domain related to anxiety.

You may not qualify if…

• Individuals younger than 22 or older than 55,
• Individuals with an IQ < 70,
• A lifetime history of neurological disorder or brain damage,
• Contraindications for undergoing MRI scanning,
• A lifetime history or diagnosis of psychosis or bipolar disorder,
• Current substance use intoxication or withdrawal,
• Severe risk of suicide, or
• Recent (<3 months) changes in psychotropic medicine or psychotherapy treatment,
• Ineligible at the PI's discretion, are excluded.

Where it is running

• Emory College — Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• Facility for Education and Research in Neuroscience (FERN) — Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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