Does Stress Change EEG Measures in Students: A Feasibility Study
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Electroencephalogram, Stress. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United Kingdom
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Does Stress Change EEG Measures in Students: A Feasibility Study.
Overview
Psychological stress is a frequent human affection and has a considerable impact on modern society, and tertiary-level students often report increased stress levels as the semester progresses. While many questionnaires assess psychological stress, they do not capture objective data. Much research has shown that electroencephalography (EEG) can capture objective markers of stress, and recent studies have shown that EEG can even classify stress levels. This study aims to assess the feasibility of using EEG to objectively assess stress over the course of a semester of work in chiropractic students engaged in a Masters level course in Scotland.
Detailed description
The study's primary aim is to assess the feasibility of a more extensive future study. The investigators also hypothesise that as the semester progresses, participants will exhibit changes in their EEG outcomes that may be related to longitudinal or direct stressors.
Study design and setting This study will be an observational study with a stress-related questionnaire (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21)) over three time-points.
Participants The investigators aim to recruit 10 participants and assess them three times over the course of their semester, early, middle, and late semester, with at least a four-week gap between each data collection. The investigators aim to recruit only healthy Scottish chiropractic students with no prior diagnosed mental disorder and who are capable of understanding the study procedure.
Procedure Following screening for eligibility and consent, i.e., visit one (baseline), participants will be asked to answer a questionnaire and undergo EEG measurement and Montreal imaging stress task (MIST). The same EEG and questionnaire procedure will be performed in the remaining two data collection sessions.
Each EEG recording session, with the participant seated, will consist of a two-minute resting state with the eyes closed for a baseline relaxation level among the participants. A following two-minute eyes-open phase will take place. After which, participants will be asked to perform the experimental phase of the MIST task, a following two-minute recording phase will be with the eyes open, and a final two-minute resting phase with eyes closed will conclude the task.
The investigators aim to conclude the data collection around 16 weeks after the initial participant is recruited.
Primary outcome measures
- Feasibility recruitment rates [Time frame: 0, 6, 12 weeks]
- Feasibility - retention [Time frame: 0, 6, 12 weeks]
- Feasibility - queries [Time frame: 12 weeks]
- Feasibility - ease [Time frame: 12 weeks]
- Feasibility - Adverse [Time frame: 12 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Electroencephalogram recordings [Time frame: 12 weeks]
- Electroencephalogram recordings [Time frame: 12 weeks]
- Electroencephalogram recordings [Time frame: 12 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
Healthy Scottish chiropractic students with no prior diagnosed mental disorder and who are capable of understanding the study procedure.
Exclusion criteria
A pre-diagnosed mental health disorder
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
United Kingdom · 1 center
- Scotland College of Chiropractic — Edinburgh
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06636253 · 348503