Is a brief mindfulness ecological momentary intervention more efficacious than a self-monitoring app for social anxiety disorder? A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of a 14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) for individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD), comparing its effects to a self-monitoring app.
Results Summary
The MEMI showed statistically significant but small improvements in momentary depression, anxiety, and mindfulness compared to self-monitoring. While no significant between-group differences were found for SAD fear and avoidance, worry, or trait mindfulness, within-group effects were small-to-large, and MEMI specifically reduced depression severity more than self-monitoring.
Population
Individuals with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD).
Effective Dosage
Mindfulness exercises prompted five times daily.
Duration
14 days.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) | decrease | momentary depression | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | Cohen's d = -0.10-0.11 | yielded statistically significantly larger improvements | #1 |
14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) | decrease | momentary anxiety | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | Cohen's d = -0.10-0.11 | yielded statistically significantly larger improvements | #2 |
14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) | increase | momentary mindfulness | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | Cohen's d = -0.10-0.11 | yielded statistically significantly larger improvements | #3 |
14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) | no change | SAD fear and avoidance | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | -0.13-0.15 | no between-group effects emerged | #4 |
14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) | no change | excessive worry | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | -0.13-0.15 | no between-group effects emerged | #5 |
14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) | no change | depression severity | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | -0.13-0.15 | no between-group effects emerged | #6 |
14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) | no change | repetitive negative thinking | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | -0.13-0.15 | no between-group effects emerged | #7 |
14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) | no change | trait mindfulness | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | -0.13-0.15 | no between-group effects emerged | #8 |
14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) | decrease | SAD fear and avoidance, excessive worry, depression severity, repetitive negative thinking, and trait mindfulness | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | -4.62-0.67 | within-group effects were significantly small-to-large | #9 |
14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) | decrease | depression severity | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | -0.63--0.60 | significant reduction | #10 |
self-monitoring app (SM) | no change | depression severity | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | -0.31--0.29 | no significant reduction | #11 |
brief mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) | no change | SAD, comorbid symptoms, and risk factors | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | - | yielded nondifferent sustained effects | #12 |
self-monitoring app (SM) | no change | SAD, comorbid symptoms, and risk factors | participants with self-reported social anxiety disorder (SAD) | - | yielded nondifferent sustained effects | #13 |
Despite their proliferation, limited knowledge exists regarding possible benefits of brief mindfulness ecological momentary interventions (MEMIs) for social anxiety disorder (SAD). Propositions that MEMIs could alleviate SAD symptoms and related clinical outcomes remain untested. This trial evaluated a 14-day MEMI for SAD. Participants with self-reported SAD were randomized to MEMI (n = 96) or self-monitoring app (SM; n = 95). Whereas MEMI instructed mindfulness exercises, SM prompted only self-monitoring five times daily for 14 days. Participants completed state-level self-reports of depression, anxiety, and mindfulness pre-post-mindfulness practice and SAD symptoms, worry, depression severity, repetitive negative thinking, and trait mindfulness at pre-randomization, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up (1MFU). Hierarchical linear modeling was conducted. The MEMI yielded statistically significantly larger improvements in momentary depression, anxiety, and mindfulness (Cohen's d = -0.10-0.11). Although no between-group effects emerged in alleviating SAD fear and avoidance, excessive worry, depression severity, repetitive negative thinking, and trait mindfulness (-0.13-0.15), within-group effects were significantly small-to-large from pre-post and pre-1MFU (-4.62-0.67). A significant reduction in depression severity occurred in MEMI (-0.63--0.60) but not SM (-0.31--0.29). Brief MEMI and SM yielded nondifferent sustained effects on SAD, comorbid symptoms, and risk factors, highlighting its potential value within stepped-care delivery settings.