Trier Social Stress Test in Virtual Reality

Last updated: April 13, 2023
Sponsor: University Medical Center Groningen
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

N/A

Treatment

N/A

Clinical Study ID

NCT05830435
TSST-VR
  • Ages 18-65
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

Background The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is a valid and gold standard way for inducing psychosocial stress and is widely used in research and diagnostics. One of the downsides of the TSST is the difficulty to maintain the same experimental conditions repeatedly. A TSST in virtual reality (TSST-VR) is constant and requires far less time and personnel. Our TSST-VR version consist of three stress levels (no stress, moderate stress, high stress), a novelty in this field.

Aim The aim is to investigate whether there is a statistically significantly greater increase directly after the TSST-VR in psychological and physiological stress parameters in the moderate and high stress levels compared to the no stress condition (control).

Method A randomized controlled trial is conducted in healthy adults, with the three stress levels as conditions. Cortisol and questionnaires on anxiety and physical arousal are measured at baseline, during and after the TSST. Heart rate is measured continuously and adverse events are monitored.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy participants, not having a psychiatric diagnosis in the last three years orcurrently having an endocrine disorders
  • Aged between 18 and 65 years
  • Good understanding of the Dutch language
  • Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of photosensitive epilepsy
  • Hearing loss
  • Pregnant woman
  • Women who breastfeed
  • Taking heart rate altering medication such as beta-blockers. Pregnant woman and woman who breastfeed are excluded because they have a different hormonelevels which can intervene with the stress reaction.

Study Design

Total Participants: 55
Study Start date:
November 25, 2022
Estimated Completion Date:
December 31, 2023

Connect with a study center

  • UMCG

    Groningen, 9713
    Netherlands

    Active - Recruiting

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