Arcade Therapeutics Shows Impressive Results for Social Anxiety
A recent clinical trial published in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders demonstrates the remarkable effectiveness of Arcade Therapeutics’ game-based digital therapeutic for treating social anxiety disorder (SAD). The randomized controlled trial, conducted between June 2022 and June 2023, revealed compelling evidence for their mobile-based attention bias modification (ABM) technology.
Striking Clinical Outcomes
The results were exceptional:
• 90% of participants showed reduced social anxiety after using Arcade’s therapeutic game
• 68% achieved a full symptom severity level reduction – a clinically meaningful improvement in their condition
• 38% of users reduced their symptoms below clinical thresholds – effectively moving them out of the clinical range for social anxiety
• The active treatment was more than 3× as likely to produce meaningful reductions in symptoms compared to a gold-standard placebo sham
Study Design
The trial included 104 adults with clinically elevated symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Participants used either the active ABM game-based intervention or a control version for four weeks. The study measured changes in anxiety using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), a well-validated clinical assessment.
Arcade Therapeutics, co-founded by CEO Raj Amin and Chief Science Officer Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, is pioneering game-based digital therapies at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and gaming. Their approach targets unconscious cognitive biases that contribute to mental illness through an engaging, stigma-free treatment format. The company is addressing the significant public health challenge of mental illness with innovative digital treatments for conditions like anxiety, depression, and addiction. With FDA discussions underway and strong clinical evidence mounting, Arcade aims to revolutionize mental healthcare by providing accessible, effective solutions that overcome traditional barriers to treatment. These impressive trial results further validate Arcade’s approach as a powerful new option in the mental health treatment landscape, offering hope to millions who struggle with anxiety disorders but face obstacles accessing conventional care.
Sources
A randomized clinical trial investigating the clinical impact of a game-based digital therapeutic for social anxiety disorder
Arcade Therapeutics - Research
Subscribe to news and reports about mental health startups & mental health investors at gimbhi.substack.com
