Trier Social Stress Test in Virtual Reality
Sponsored by University Medical Center Groningen
About this trial
Last updated 2 years ago
Study ID
TSST-VR
Status
Recruiting
Type
Interventional
Phase
N/A
Placebo
No
Accepting
18 to 65 Years
All
Trial Timing
Ended a year ago
What is this trial about?
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.
What are the participation requirements?
Inclusion Criteria
- Healthy participants, not having a psychiatric diagnosis in the last three years or currently 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 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 hormone levels which can intervene with the stress reaction.