Understanding why talk therapy works differently for social anxiety

Researchers want to understand why some people benefit greatly from cognitive behavioral therapy (a type of talk therapy) while others don't improve as much. This study will measure how much you focus on yourself during social situations and track changes in your brain using MRI scans before, during, and after 12 weeks of therapy. By studying these patterns, researchers hope to predict early on who might need different treatment approaches.

Many people with social anxiety disorder or body dysmorphic disorder struggle with excessive self-focused attention — constantly monitoring how others perceive them. Not everyone improves with talk therapy, and doctors don't yet have a reliable way to predict who will struggle early enough to adjust the treatment plan.