Medical School SyndromeNCT05466032
Evolution of the Mind-body Connection While Learning About Common Osteopathic Dysfunctions
An observational study of Medical School Syndrome and Mind Body Awareness, run by Mikhail Volokitin, MD, DO. at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Anecdotally, as first-year medical students learn about common osteopathic dysfunctions, they seem to become more aware of possible dysfunctions in their own bodies. This study will explore whether this new awareness is because of a strengthened mind-body connection, leading to increased proprioceptive awareness, or… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Medical School Syndrome, Mind Body Awareness
- What is being tested?
- Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM) Curriculum
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 29 Sep 2022to 12 Apr 2025
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Study population: First year osteopathic students enrolled at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Harlem as well as students enrolled in Touro's Master of Science Program in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences
Who may be able to join
- student at TouroCOM Harlem
Who cannot join
- any current and significant musculoskeletal disorders, either chronic or acute
- pregnant or plans to become pregnant within the next six months
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
New York, New York, 10027
About this study
Official title: Exploring the Evolution of the Mind-body Connection as First-year Osteopathic Medical Students Learn About Common Osteopathic Dysfunctions
Anecdotally, as first-year medical students learn about common osteopathic dysfunctions, they seem to become more aware of possible dysfunctions in their own bodies. This study will explore whether this new awareness is because of a strengthened mind-body connection, leading to increased proprioceptive awareness, or whether these students are experiencing "medical student syndrome." Medical school syndrome is a common phenomenon, especially in the first years of medical school, defined as experiencing "vague bodily symptoms in terms of the latest disease they have learnt about."
This study will be conducted in multiple phases throughout 2022- 2023, based around the first year Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM) exam schedule. After study recruitment during orientation week, first year students will be given the baseline participant survey. This survey asks participants to report pain/discomfort in the thoracic, lumbar, or rib/chest areas, as well as what this sensation may be attributed to (ex: somatic dysfunction, muscle soreness, traumatic injury, etc.). After completing the surveys, participants will undergo an osteopathic evaluation to confirm their stated symptoms. Researchers will not be aware of the participants' survey answers for the duration of the data collection portion of the study to reduce unintentional bias during the osteopathic evaluations.
After the first-year students complete each OMM module (thoracic spine, lumbar spine, ribs/chest), they will be given the same survey and osteopathic evaluation. Timing is of particular importance in this study-- conducting the survey and evaluation at a time when students are acutely aware of somatic dysfunctions specific to each region will allow us to link acquisition of this knowledge to the mind-body connection. If a participant reports new or increased pain/discomfort in the region just taught, it is likely to be linked to an increased awareness of the region. The osteopathic evaluation, in conjunction with the participant's attribution of the sensation, will determine if the student is experiencing increased proprioception, or a case of medical school syndrome.
Read the detailed description
Data collection will take place in three week-long phases over the course of the first semester, timed around each first year Osteopathic Manual Manipulation Course exam. In the week after the first-year exam, participants will undergo an osteopathic examination and fill out a questionnaire. This process should take approximately 30 minutes per session, for a total of 1.5 hours over the course of five months.
Data analysis will be conducted in the second semester. In total, the estimated period of time for this project will be from the last week in July 2022 to May 2023. This data analysis will involve matching student surveys given throughout the year with findings from the osteopathic evaluations. Comparing the baseline and the subsequent subject surveys during data analysis will allow researchers to identify whether a new somatic dysfunction has arisen during the research period, and whether the subject is able to correctly identify and attribute this dysfunction.
All participants will be coded both on the participant survey and the osteopathic evaluation data form to protect their anonymity, as well as to blind the researchers. Data will be stored in a Google Drive via Google Forms. Only the researchers will have access to these files via their Touro emails. There will not be any risk to participants, nor will there likely be much benefit to the participants after completing the study besides assisting in furthering the field of osteopathic research.
- Conditions
- Medical School Syndrome, Mind Body Awareness
- Being tested
- Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM) Curriculum
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM) CurriculumOther
Osteopathic medical students are enrolled in the OMM curriculum while masters students are not enrolled.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| First year TouroCOM osteopathic medical students | As required by the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine curriculum, all first year osteopathic students are enrolled in Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM). This course meets three hours per week for the duration of the school year and teaches students about different osteopathic dysfunctions, as well as techniques for how to treat them. Receives: Other: Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM) Curriculum | |
| Master of Science TouroCOM students | Students enrolled in the Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences at TouroCOM complete almost all of the same courses as the osteopathic medical students, but are not exposed Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM). This cohort will act as the control as they undergo similar environmental stress, but will not learn about common osteopathic dysfunctions or their treatments. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Difference in Mind Body Connection
A change in proprioceptive abilities of first year medical students after learning about Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM). This connection will be measured by comparing the participant's stated symptoms on a participant survey to the participant's stated attribution of the pain. If the pain is attributed correctly to a common somatic dysfunction recently learned by the student, as confirmed by an osteopathic evaluation performed by the researchers, then it will show an increase in bodily awareness that correlates with an accumulation of osteopathic knowledge.
Measured: Assessed three times over the course of the semester after the initial baseline evaluation. Each assessment will be scheduled around the relevant first year Osteopathic Manual Manipulation exams.
Changed Incidence of Medical School Syndrome
A change in reported "vague bodily symptoms in terms of the latest disease they [students] have learnt about." The incidence of medical school syndrome will be assessed by comparing the participant survey to the findings of the osteopathic evaluation. If no dysfunctions are found during the evaluation, but are 1) reported on the participant survey and 2) attributed to a common, or uncommon, somatic dysfunction that had been taught in the first year TouroCOM OMM curriculum, it is a case of medical school syndrome.
Measured: Assessed three times over the course of the semester after the initial baseline evaluation. Each assessment will be scheduled around the relevant first year Osteopathic Manual Manipulation exams.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Jul 2022
- Study start29 Sep 2022
- Primary completion12 Apr 2025
- Study completion12 Apr 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (8)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Medical School SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Mikhail Volokitin, MD, DO.
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Mikhail Volokitin, MD, DO., The Touro College and University System
- Investigators
- Mikhail Volokitin, MD, DO, Principal investigator, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05466032
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- TouroCOM-OMM
- Status last verified
- Apr 2025
- First submitted
- 16 Jul 2022
- Last updated
- 15 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: No specific individual participant data will be shared, only study tools (consent form, surveys, data collection tools) without participant information will be shared upon request.
Publications
Woods SM, Natterson J, Silverman J. Medical students' disease: hypochondriasis in medical education. J Med Educ. 1966 Aug;41(8):785-90. No abstract available.
PubMed 4380602Lesho EP. An overview of osteopathic medicine. Arch Fam Med. 1999 Nov-Dec;8(6):477-84. doi: 10.1001/archfami.8.6.477.
PubMed 10575385Licciardone JC, Schultz MJ, Amen B. Osteopathic Manipulation in the Management of Chronic Pain: Current Perspectives. J Pain Res. 2020 Jul 20;13:1839-1847. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S183170. eCollection 2020.
PubMed 32765058Kuchera ML. Osteopathic manipulative medicine considerations in patients with chronic pain. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2005 Sep;105(9 Suppl 4):S29-36.
PubMed 16249364Ezmeirlly HA, Farahat FM. Illness anxiety disorder and perception of disease and distress among medical students in western Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2019 Nov;40(11):1144-1149. doi: 10.15537/smj.2019.11.24654.
PubMed 31707412Moss-Morris R, Petrie KJ. Redefining medical students' disease to reduce morbidity. Med Educ. 2001 Aug;35(8):724-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2923.2001.00958.x.
PubMed 11489098Salkovskis PM, Rimes KA, Warwick HM, Clark DM. The Health Anxiety Inventory: development and validation of scales for the measurement of health anxiety and hypochondriasis. Psychol Med. 2002 Jul;32(5):843-53. doi: 10.1017/s0033291702005822.
PubMed 12171378Szczurek K, Furgal N, Szczepanek D, Zaman R, Krysta K, Krzystanek M. "Medical Student Syndrome"-A Myth or a Real Disease Entity? Cross-Sectional Study of Medical Students of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep 19;18(18):9884. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18189884.
PubMed 34574807
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Exploring the Evolution of the Mind-body Connection as First-year Osteopathic Medical Students Learn About Common Osteopathic Dysfunctions
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05466032
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TouroCOM-OMM
- Conditions
- Medical School Syndrome, Mind Body Awareness
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Mikhail Volokitin, MD, DO.University, hospital or other
- Study start
- 29 Sep 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 12 Apr 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Jul 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Anecdotally, as first-year medical students learn about common osteopathic dysfunctions, they seem to become more aware of possible dysfunctions in their own bodies. This study will explore whether this new awareness is because of a strengthened mind-body connection, leading to increased proprioceptive awareness, or whether these students are experiencing "medical student syndrome." Medical school syndrome is a common phenomenon, especially in the first years of medical school, defined as experiencing "vague bodily symptoms in terms of the latest disease they have learnt about."
This study will be conducted in multiple phases throughout 2022- 2023, based around the first year Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM) exam schedule. After study recruitment during orientation week, first year students will be given the baseline participant survey. This survey asks participants to report pain/discomfort in the thoracic, lumbar, or rib/chest areas, as well as what this sensation may be attributed to (ex: somatic dysfunction, muscle soreness, traumatic injury, etc.). After completing the surveys, participants will undergo an osteopathic evaluation to confirm their stated symptoms. Researchers will not be aware of the participants' survey answers for the duration of the data collection portion of the study to reduce unintentional bias during the osteopathic evaluations.
After the first-year students complete each OMM module (thoracic spine, lumbar spine, ribs/chest), they will be given the same survey and osteopathic evaluation. Timing is of particular importance in this study-- conducting the survey and evaluation at a time when students are acutely aware of somatic dysfunctions specific to each region will allow us to link acquisition of this knowledge to the mind-body connection. If a participant reports new or increased pain/discomfort in the region just taught, it is likely to be linked to an increased awareness of the region. The osteopathic evaluation, in conjunction with the participant's attribution of the sensation, will determine if the student is experiencing increased proprioception, or a case of medical school syndrome.
Detailed description
Data collection will take place in three week-long phases over the course of the first semester, timed around each first year Osteopathic Manual Manipulation Course exam. In the week after the first-year exam, participants will undergo an osteopathic examination and fill out a questionnaire. This process should take approximately 30 minutes per session, for a total of 1.5 hours over the course of five months.
Data analysis will be conducted in the second semester. In total, the estimated period of time for this project will be from the last week in July 2022 to May 2023. This data analysis will involve matching student surveys given throughout the year with findings from the osteopathic evaluations. Comparing the baseline and the subsequent subject surveys during data analysis will allow researchers to identify whether a new somatic dysfunction has arisen during the research period, and whether the subject is able to correctly identify and attribute this dysfunction.
All participants will be coded both on the participant survey and the osteopathic evaluation data form to protect their anonymity, as well as to blind the researchers. Data will be stored in a Google Drive via Google Forms. Only the researchers will have access to these files via their Touro emails. There will not be any risk to participants, nor will there likely be much benefit to the participants after completing the study besides assisting in furthering the field of osteopathic research.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| First year TouroCOM osteopathic medical students | – | Other: Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM) CurriculumAs required by the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine curriculum, all first year osteopathic students are enrolled in Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM). This course meets three hours per week for the duration of the school year and teaches students about different osteopathic dysfunctions, as well as techniques for how to treat them. |
| Master of Science TouroCOM students | – | –Students enrolled in the Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences at TouroCOM complete almost all of the same courses as the osteopathic medical students, but are not exposed Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM). This cohort will act as the control as they undergo similar environmental stress, but will not learn about common osteopathic dysfunctions or their treatments. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- First year osteopathic students enrolled at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Harlem as well as students enrolled in Touro's Master of Science Program in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- student at TouroCOM Harlem
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- any current and significant musculoskeletal disorders, either chronic or acute
- pregnant or plans to become pregnant within the next six months
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM) CurriculumOsteopathic medical students are enrolled in the OMM curriculum while masters students are not enrolled. | Other | First year TouroCOM osteopathic medical students |
Primary outcome
Difference in Mind Body Connection
Time frame: Assessed three times over the course of the semester after the initial baseline evaluation. Each assessment will be scheduled around the relevant first year Osteopathic Manual Manipulation exams.
A change in proprioceptive abilities of first year medical students after learning about Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM). This connection will be measured by comparing the participant's stated symptoms on a participant survey to the participant's stated attribution of the pain. If the pain is attributed correctly to a common somatic dysfunction recently learned by the student, as confirmed by an osteopathic evaluation performed by the researchers, then it will show an increase in bodily awareness that correlates with an accumulation of osteopathic knowledge.
Changed Incidence of Medical School Syndrome
Time frame: Assessed three times over the course of the semester after the initial baseline evaluation. Each assessment will be scheduled around the relevant first year Osteopathic Manual Manipulation exams.
A change in reported "vague bodily symptoms in terms of the latest disease they [students] have learnt about." The incidence of medical school syndrome will be assessed by comparing the participant survey to the findings of the osteopathic evaluation. If no dysfunctions are found during the evaluation, but are 1) reported on the participant survey and 2) attributed to a common, or uncommon, somatic dysfunction that had been taught in the first year TouroCOM OMM curriculum, it is a case of medical school syndrome.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Apr 2025.
- Background: PubMed 4380602Woods SM, Natterson J, Silverman J. Medical students' disease: hypochondriasis in medical education. J Med Educ. 1966 Aug;41(8):785-90. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 10575385Lesho EP. An overview of osteopathic medicine. Arch Fam Med. 1999 Nov-Dec;8(6):477-84. doi: 10.1001/archfami.8.6.477.
- Background: PubMed 32765058Licciardone JC, Schultz MJ, Amen B. Osteopathic Manipulation in the Management of Chronic Pain: Current Perspectives. J Pain Res. 2020 Jul 20;13:1839-1847. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S183170. eCollection 2020.
- Background: PubMed 16249364Kuchera ML. Osteopathic manipulative medicine considerations in patients with chronic pain. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2005 Sep;105(9 Suppl 4):S29-36.
- Background: PubMed 31707412Ezmeirlly HA, Farahat FM. Illness anxiety disorder and perception of disease and distress among medical students in western Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2019 Nov;40(11):1144-1149. doi: 10.15537/smj.2019.11.24654.
- Background: PubMed 11489098Moss-Morris R, Petrie KJ. Redefining medical students' disease to reduce morbidity. Med Educ. 2001 Aug;35(8):724-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2923.2001.00958.x.
- Background: PubMed 12171378Salkovskis PM, Rimes KA, Warwick HM, Clark DM. The Health Anxiety Inventory: development and validation of scales for the measurement of health anxiety and hypochondriasis. Psychol Med. 2002 Jul;32(5):843-53. doi: 10.1017/s0033291702005822.
- Background: PubMed 34574807Szczurek K, Furgal N, Szczepanek D, Zaman R, Krysta K, Krzystanek M. "Medical Student Syndrome"-A Myth or a Real Disease Entity? Cross-Sectional Study of Medical Students of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep 19;18(18):9884. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18189884.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. No specific individual participant data will be shared, only study tools (consent form, surveys, data collection tools) without participant information will be shared upon request.
Related trials for Medical School Syndrome
RecruitingObservational study
SQUED™ Series 28.1 Home-use and Treatment of Autowave Reverberator of Autism
Autistic Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Mikhail Volokitin, MD, DO principal investigator
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Medical School Syndrome and Mind Body Awareness, run by Mikhail Volokitin, MD, DO. at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Difference in Mind Body Connection (time frame: Assessed three times over the course of the semester after the initial baseline evaluation. Each assessment will be scheduled around the relevant first year Osteopathic Manual Manipulation exams.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05466032, which also lists 8 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Apr 2025.