NCT07464158

WRITE: Written Imaginal Thinking Exercise Study

Written Imaginal Thinking Exercise (WRITE) Study

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 270 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Colorado, Boulder · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

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. Participants (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

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Worst-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise	Written exposure exercise about an imagined future worst-case scenario.
BEHAVIORAL	Neutral Future Scenario Written Exercise	Written exercise about an imagined neutral future scenario.
BEHAVIORAL	Best-Case Scenario Written Exposure Exercise	Written exposure exercise about an imagined future best-case scenario.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-01
• Primary completion: 2027-03-01
• Completion: 2027-03-01
• First posted: 2026-03-11
• Last updated: 2026-03-11