AnxietyWRITENCT07464158
WRITE: Written Imaginal Thinking Exercise Study
A study testing Worst-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise, Neutral Future Scenario Written Exercise and Best-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise in people with Anxiety and Stress, run by University of Colorado, Boulder at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of the study is to investigate and compare the effects of three different versions of a future imaginal writing exercise (worst-case scenario, neutral future scenario, best-case scenario) for individuals with elevated social anxiety symptoms. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Anxiety, Stress, Social Anxiety
- What is being tested?
- Worst-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise, Neutral Future Scenario Written Exercise and Best-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 353 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 21 Mar 2026to 5 Jun 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- English fluency
- Previous high-quality Prolific submission experience
- Elevated social anxiety symptoms
Who cannot join
- Hospitalization for psychiatric reasons within the past year
- Previous suicide attempt or self-harm
- Previous treatment for severe head injury or past repeated serious head injury
- Current psychosis symptoms
- Elevated trauma symptoms
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado, 80309
About this study
Official title: Written Imaginal Thinking Exercise (WRITE) Study
The purpose of the study is to investigate and compare the effects of three different versions of a future imaginal writing exercise (worst-case scenario, neutral future scenario, best-case scenario) for individuals with elevated social anxiety symptoms. Participants (estimated N=270) will be recruited through the online platform, Prolific, and will be randomly assigned to one of three writing exercise conditions. Participants will complete three study sessions across approximately three weeks. Study session 1 (T1) will consist of baseline assessments and pre-writing ratings, a future imaginal writing exercise, and then post-writing ratings. Study session 2 (T2) will occur approximately one week later and will consist of mid-study assessments and pre-writing ratings, a second, repeated future imaginal writing exercise, and then post-writing ratings. Finally, study session 3 (T3) will occur approximately one week later (approximately two weeks after T1) and will consist of follow-up assessments and repeated post-writing ratings.
- Conditions
- Anxiety, Stress, Social Anxiety
- Being tested
- Worst-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise, Neutral Future Scenario Written Exercise, Best-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Worst-Case Scenario Written Exposure ExerciseBehavioural
Written exposure exercise about an imagined future worst-case scenario.
Neutral Future Scenario Written ExerciseBehavioural
Written exercise about an imagined neutral future scenario.
Best-Case Scenario Written Exposure ExerciseBehavioural
Written exposure exercise about an imagined future best-case scenario.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Worst-Case Scenario | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Worst-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise |
| Neutral Future Scenario | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Neutral Future Scenario Written Exercise |
| Best-Case Scenario | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Best-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
Social anxiety symptom severity, range: 0-68 total, higher scores indicate higher social anxiety symptom severity.
Measured: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Secondary outcomes (13)
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8)
Depression symptom severity, range: 0-24 total, higher scores indicate higher depression symptom severity.
Measured: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS)
General anxiety symptom severity, range: 0-20 total, higher scores indicate higher general anxiety symptom severity.
Measured: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Social Approach Motivation
Self-reported rating of motivation for social approach over the next week. Rating ranges from 0 (not motivated at all) to 100 (extremely motivated).
Measured: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-10)
Positive and negative affect, range: 5-25 each (total score), higher scores indicate higher positive and negative affect.
Measured: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ): Catastrophizing and Positive Reappraisal subscales
Use of catastrophizing and positive reappraisal cognitive emotion regulation strategies, range: 1-5 each (average score), higher score reflects higher degree of use of strategy.
Measured: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Threat-related prediction ratings
Self-reported ratings of 1) likelihood of feared situation avoidance, 2) likelihood of feared outcome occurrence, 3) predicted intensity of feared outcome occurrence, 4) likelihood of best possible outcome occurrence, and 5) predicted intensity of best possible outcome occurrence. All ratings range from 0 (0% likely/not bad at all/not good at all) to 100 (100% likely/as bad as I can possibly imagine/as good as I can possibly imagine).
Measured: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
State emotion ratings
Self-reported state ratings of 1) positive affect, and 2) anxiety. All ratings range from 0 (not positive/anxious at all) to 100 (extremely positive/anxious).
Measured: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Writing exercise experience ratings - writing qualities
Self-reported ratings of vividness/detail and effort of the writing. All ratings range from 0 (not at all) to 100 (extremely), higher scores reflect greater vividness/detail and effort.
Measured: After each writing exercise, an average of 2 weeks.
Writing exercise experience ratings - perceived learning
Self-reported ratings of perceived learning and perspective shift from the writing exercises. All ratings range from 0 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Higher scores reflect greater perceived learning and perspective shift.
Measured: After each writing exercise, an average of 2 weeks.
Behavioral approach/avoidance
Single self-reported rating of willingness to engage in a feared situation. Binary yes/no response, where yes indicates willingness to approach and no indicates avoidance.
Measured: At the final study session, approximately 3 weeks after Baseline.
Program feedback ratings - overall
Ratings assessing overall program feedback (range: 0-28, higher scores reflect more positive overall program feedback).
Measured: At the final study session, approximately 3 weeks after Baseline.
Program feedback ratings - perceived benefit
Rating assessing perceived benefit of the writing exercises (range: 0-4, higher scores reflect higher perceived benefit).
Measured: At the final study session, approximately 3 weeks after Baseline.
Program feedback ratings - likelihood of future use
Rating assessing likelihood of future use of writing exercises (range: 0-100, higher scores reflect higher likelihood of future use).
Measured: At the final study session, approximately 3 weeks after Baseline.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Mar 2026
- Study start21 Mar 2026
- Primary completion5 Jun 2026
- Study completion5 Jun 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 353 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Colorado, Boulder
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nora Barnes-Horowitz, University of Colorado, Boulder
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07464158
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 25-0771
- Acronym
- WRITE
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Written Imaginal Thinking Exercise (WRITE) Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07464158
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- WRITE / 25-0771
- Conditions
- Anxiety, Stress, Social Anxiety
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 353 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Colorado, BoulderUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 5 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 5 Jun 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 11 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of the study is to investigate and compare the effects of three different versions of a future imaginal writing exercise (worst-case scenario, neutral future scenario, best-case scenario) for individuals with elevated social anxiety symptoms. Participants (estimated N=270) will be recruited through the online platform, Prolific, and will be randomly assigned to one of three writing exercise conditions. Participants will complete three study sessions across approximately three weeks. Study session 1 (T1) will consist of baseline assessments and pre-writing ratings, a future imaginal writing exercise, and then post-writing ratings. Study session 2 (T2) will occur approximately one week later and will consist of mid-study assessments and pre-writing ratings, a second, repeated future imaginal writing exercise, and then post-writing ratings. Finally, study session 3 (T3) will occur approximately one week later (approximately two weeks after T1) and will consist of follow-up assessments and repeated post-writing ratings.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Worst-Case Scenario | Experimental | Behavioral: Worst-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise |
| Neutral Future Scenario | Active comparator | Behavioral: Neutral Future Scenario Written Exercise |
| Best-Case Scenario | Experimental | Behavioral: Best-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- English fluency
- Previous high-quality Prolific submission experience
- Elevated social anxiety symptoms
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Hospitalization for psychiatric reasons within the past year
- Previous suicide attempt or self-harm
- Previous treatment for severe head injury or past repeated serious head injury
- Current psychosis symptoms
- Elevated trauma symptoms
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Worst-Case Scenario Written Exposure ExerciseWritten exposure exercise about an imagined future worst-case scenario. | Behavioural | Worst-Case Scenario |
| Neutral Future Scenario Written ExerciseWritten exercise about an imagined neutral future scenario. | Behavioural | Neutral Future Scenario |
| Best-Case Scenario Written Exposure ExerciseWritten exposure exercise about an imagined future best-case scenario. | Behavioural | Best-Case Scenario |
Primary outcome
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
Time frame: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Social anxiety symptom severity, range: 0-68 total, higher scores indicate higher social anxiety symptom severity.
13 secondary outcomes
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8)
Time frame: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS)
Time frame: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Social Approach Motivation
Time frame: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-10)
Time frame: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ): Catastrophizing and Positive Reappraisal subscales
Time frame: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Threat-related prediction ratings
Time frame: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
State emotion ratings
Time frame: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.
Writing exercise experience ratings - writing qualities
Time frame: After each writing exercise, an average of 2 weeks.
Writing exercise experience ratings - perceived learning
Time frame: After each writing exercise, an average of 2 weeks.
Behavioral approach/avoidance
Time frame: At the final study session, approximately 3 weeks after Baseline.
Program feedback ratings - overall
Time frame: At the final study session, approximately 3 weeks after Baseline.
Program feedback ratings - perceived benefit
Time frame: At the final study session, approximately 3 weeks after Baseline.
Program feedback ratings - likelihood of future use
Time frame: At the final study session, approximately 3 weeks after Baseline.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Jul 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Worst-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise, Neutral Future Scenario Written Exercise and Best-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise in people with Anxiety and Stress, run by University of Colorado, Boulder at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) (time frame: Baseline through study completion, an average of 3 weeks.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Jul 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 27 Oct 2026.