Somatic DisordersNCT07066787
Somatic Symptoms and Depression in Undergraduate Physiotherapy Students: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
An observational study of Somatic Disorders and Psychologic, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
This cross-sectional, community-based study aimed to investigate the association between depression and somatic symptoms among physical therapy students in Egypt. Using validated tools-the PHQ-9 for depression and PHQ-15 for somatic symptoms-data were collected from undergraduate students through an online… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 19 to 24 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Somatic Disorders, Psychologic, Public Health
- What is being tested?
- psychological group and somatic
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- How many people
- 106 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 8 Feb 2025to 2 Jul 2025
- How long will I take part?
- 7 Days
- 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 19 to 24 years
- All sexes
- Adult
Study population: The study population consisted of undergraduate physical therapy students currently enrolled in Egyptian universities, both public and private. Participants were between 19 and 24 years of age and represented various academic levels and geographic regions across Egypt. All participants were required to have the ability to read and understand Arabic or English, and to provide informed consent prior to participation. The population was selected to reflect the typical demographic and academic profile of physical therapy students in Egypt, aiming to provide insights into the mental and physical health challenges they face during their education.
Who may be able to join
- Medical students currently enrolled in Egyptian universities (public or private).
- Aged between 19 and 24 years.
- Able to read and understand Arabic or English.
- Provided informed consent to participate in the study.
- Completed all sections of the online questionnaire.
Who cannot join
- Students previously diagnosed with a major psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia).
- Students with chronic physical illnesses that may independently cause somatic symptoms (e.g., fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease).
- Incomplete or duplicate responses to the online questionnaire. Participants who declined to provide informed consent.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This cross-sectional, community-based study aimed to investigate the association between depression and somatic symptoms among physical therapy students in Egypt. Using validated tools-the PHQ-9 for depression and PHQ-15 for somatic symptoms-data were collected from undergraduate students through an online questionnaire distributed via social media. The study included students aged 19 to 24 from various Egyptian governorates. Results revealed a notable correlation between depressive symptoms and the severity of physical complaints, highlighting the need for increased mental health support and early screening strategies within physical therapy education programs.
Read the detailed description
This study is a cross-sectional, community-based investigation designed to explore the relationship between depressive symptoms and somatic complaints among undergraduate physical therapy students in Egypt. Given the increasing academic and psychological pressures faced by health sciences students, particularly those in physically and mentally demanding fields such as physiotherapy, understanding how mental health issues manifest physically is essential for early identification and intervention.
The study was conducted over one week in February 2025, shortly after the start of the academic semester. Participants were recruited through a self-administered online questionnaire shared via social media platforms. The inclusion criteria focused on physical therapy students aged 19 to 24 years, currently enrolled in Egyptian universities. Exclusion criteria included prior psychiatric diagnosis, chronic physical illness, and incomplete responses.
Data collection tools included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depressive symptoms and the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) to assess the severity and frequency of somatic symptoms. Demographic data and potential influencing factors such as relationship status and plans for part-time work were also recorded.
Ethical approval was obtained from the EG PHYSIO Scientific Committee (Approval Number: EGPHYSIO-SC-001), and the study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (Registration ID: NCT06820814). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 22, with correlation tests used to examine the association between depression scores and somatic symptom severity. Findings from this study aim to inform future strategies for mental health screening, academic support services, and targeted interventions for physiotherapy students in Egypt.
- Conditions
- Somatic Disorders, Psychologic, Public Health
- Being tested
- psychological group, somatic
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
psychological groupBehavioural
fill the psychological section
somaticDiagnostic test
fill the somatic section
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
assess depressive symptoms
Measured: 7 days
Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15)
assess the severity and frequency of somatic symptoms.
Measured: 7 days
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Jul 2025
- Study start8 Feb 2025
- Primary completion15 Feb 2025
- Study completion2 Jul 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Somatic DisordersStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Ecologic or community
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 106 participants (actual)
- Target duration
- 7 Days
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Sameh Eldaly, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07066787
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- EGPHYSIO-SC-001
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 4 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 15 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Somatic Symptoms and Depression in Undergraduate Physiotherapy Students: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07066787
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EGPHYSIO-SC-001
- Conditions
- Somatic Disorders, Psychologic, Public Health
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 106 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 8 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 2 Jul 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 Jul 2025 (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.
This cross-sectional, community-based study aimed to investigate the association between depression and somatic symptoms among physical therapy students in Egypt. Using validated tools-the PHQ-9 for depression and PHQ-15 for somatic symptoms-data were collected from undergraduate students through an online questionnaire distributed via social media. The study included students aged 19 to 24 from various Egyptian governorates. Results revealed a notable correlation between depressive symptoms and the severity of physical complaints, highlighting the need for increased mental health support and early screening strategies within physical therapy education programs.
Detailed description
This study is a cross-sectional, community-based investigation designed to explore the relationship between depressive symptoms and somatic complaints among undergraduate physical therapy students in Egypt. Given the increasing academic and psychological pressures faced by health sciences students, particularly those in physically and mentally demanding fields such as physiotherapy, understanding how mental health issues manifest physically is essential for early identification and intervention.
The study was conducted over one week in February 2025, shortly after the start of the academic semester. Participants were recruited through a self-administered online questionnaire shared via social media platforms. The inclusion criteria focused on physical therapy students aged 19 to 24 years, currently enrolled in Egyptian universities. Exclusion criteria included prior psychiatric diagnosis, chronic physical illness, and incomplete responses.
Data collection tools included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depressive symptoms and the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) to assess the severity and frequency of somatic symptoms. Demographic data and potential influencing factors such as relationship status and plans for part-time work were also recorded.
Ethical approval was obtained from the EG PHYSIO Scientific Committee (Approval Number: EGPHYSIO-SC-001), and the study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (Registration ID: NCT06820814). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 22, with correlation tests used to examine the association between depression scores and somatic symptom severity. Findings from this study aim to inform future strategies for mental health screening, academic support services, and targeted interventions for physiotherapy students in Egypt.
Study design
- Observational model
- Ecologic or community
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Target follow-up
- 7 Days
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 19 to 24 years
- Sex
- All
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- The study population consisted of undergraduate physical therapy students currently enrolled in Egyptian universities, both public and private. Participants were between 19 and 24 years of age and represented various academic levels and geographic regions across Egypt. All participants were required to have the ability to read and understand Arabic or English, and to provide informed consent prior to participation. The population was selected to reflect the typical demographic and academic profile of physical therapy students in Egypt, aiming to provide insights into the mental and physical health challenges they face during their education.
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Medical students currently enrolled in Egyptian universities (public or private).
- Aged between 19 and 24 years.
- Able to read and understand Arabic or English.
- Provided informed consent to participate in the study.
- Completed all sections of the online questionnaire.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Students previously diagnosed with a major psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia).
- Students with chronic physical illnesses that may independently cause somatic symptoms (e.g., fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease).
- Incomplete or duplicate responses to the online questionnaire. Participants who declined to provide informed consent.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| psychological groupfill the psychological section | Behavioural | – |
| somaticfill the somatic section | Diagnostic test | – |
Primary outcome
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Time frame: 7 days
assess depressive symptoms
Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15)
Time frame: 7 days
assess the severity and frequency of somatic symptoms.
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 Jul 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Somatic Disorders
Active, not recruitingPhase 3
A Study of Niraparib in Combination With Abiraterone Acetate and Prednisone Versus Abiraterone Acetate and Prednisone for the Treatment of Participants With Deleterious Germline or Somatic Homologous Recombination Repair (HRR) Gene-MutatedProstatic Neoplasms (mCSPC)
Prostatic Neoplasms
RecruitingObservational study
Cell Collection to Study Eye Diseases
Retinal Disease, AMD
Active, not recruitingPhase 3
A Clinical Trial of Rabies Vaccine（Human Diploid Cell）for Human Use,Freeze-dried in a Population Aged 10 to 60 Years
Rabies
RecruitingObservational study
Precision-Based Genomics in Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Active, not recruiting
Body-oriented Psychotherapy for Individuals With a History of Child Maltreatment and Trauma-related Symptoms
Safety, Psychological, Acceptability of Health Care
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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
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 Somatic Disorders and Psychologic, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
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 5 inclusion and 3 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 Jul 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 Egypt. 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?
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) (time frame: 7 days). 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?
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 Jul 2025.