Alena is a safe and effective digital therapeutic for social anxiety


🧪 Clinical trial report

This white paper describes two randomised-controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the clinical effectiveness for Alena in reducing social anxiety symptoms.

Key findings

51% to 65%

of users significantly
reduce social anxiety
with Alena

3 ×

more likely to see
significant improvement
with Alena

84% to 91%

is the median
completion rate for the Alena therapy program

4.75 / 5

average rating across the app’s acceptability measures

Aim

Social anxiety significantly impacts individuals' work, personal relationships, and overall ability to engage in life opportunities, yet seeking face-to-face therapy can be daunting and inaccessible for those affected. Alena aims to address this gap by providing a convenient, digital solution. The primary objective of this research was to gather robust scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of Alena, a digital cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) app, in alleviating symptoms of social anxiety disorder.

Methods

This research comprised two randomised controlled trials (RCTs):

  1. RCT #1 (2022): A pilot study involving 102 female participants aged between 18 and 35.

  2. RCT #2 (2023): A more extensive study with 267 participants (64% females, 36% males), aged between 18 and 75.

Both studies divided participants into two groups: 1) an intervention group receiving access to the digital therapy app, and 2) a waitlist control group. RCT #1 provided access for 4 weeks, while RCT #2 extended this to 8 weeks. Participants completed weekly surveys assessing their social anxiety symptoms using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) and were monitored for safety. Follow-up surveys were conducted after the intervention periods (2-week follow-up for RCT #1 and 4-week follow-up for RCT #2).

Results

The intervention groups in both RCTs experienced a threefold greater reduction in social anxiety symptoms compared to the waitlist group, as measured by the SPIN. Participants also reported improvements in work, home management, and social and private leisure activities, as gauged by the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). There were no significant safety issues reported with the app's use. Participants found the app helpful, user-friendly, and were likely to recommend it. The intervention group showed a high median completion rate of 84%-91% for the therapy program, despite not being incentivised to do so. Overall, the consistency of outcomes across both studies strengthens the overall reliability of this research.