Is a brief mindfulness ecological momentary intervention more efficacious than a self-monitoring app for social anxiety disorder? A randomized controlled trial.
Journal of anxiety disorders June 1, 2024 Nur Hani Zainal, Hui Han Tan, Ryan Y Hong et al. 13 citations
A 14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) for social anxiety disorder was compared with a self-monitoring app in a randomized trial with 191 participants. The MEMI produced small but statistically significant improvements in momentary depression, anxiety, and mindfulness. However, no between-group differences were found for social anxiety symptoms, worry, depression severity, repetitive negative thinking, or trait mindfulness at post-intervention or one-month follow-up. Within the MEMI group, depression severity decreased significantly, while the self-monitoring group showed no such reduction. The findings suggest that brief MEMI may offer limited added benefit over self-monitoring for social anxiety disorder but could have value in stepped-care settings.