Test AnxietyNCT07154329
Internet-Based EMDR Flash Intervention for Test Anxiety in University Students
A study testing Internet-Based EMDR-Flash Program in people with Test Anxiety, run by Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University.
Trial summary
The aim of this study is to investigate whether an Internet-based EMDR Flash intervention can help reduce exam anxiety among university students. Participants will utilize the online SKY-Flash program and report their levels of exam anxiety at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up assessments. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Test Anxiety
- What is being tested?
- Internet-Based EMDR-Flash Program
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 168 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 15 Mar 2026to 30 Jun 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Voluntary participation in the study Being older than 18 years and currently enrolled as a university student Having a valid e-mail address Having internet access (computer or mobile device) Scoring above the average on the Test Anxiety Scale Scoring below 15 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), based on established cutoff points
Who cannot join
- Currently receiving psychological help from a psychologist, counselor, or psychiatrist Having any diagnosed psychiatric disorder
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Murat Korkmaz, Lecturer contact
About this study
Official title: Examining the Effect of Internet-Based EMDR Flash Intervention (SKY-Flash) on University Students' Test Anxiety Levels and User Experiences
The aim of this study is to investigate whether an Internet-based EMDR Flash intervention can help reduce exam anxiety among university students. Participants will utilize the online SKY-Flash program and report their levels of exam anxiety at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up assessments. In addition, the study will collect feedback regarding participants' overall experiences with the program. The primary objective is to determine whether SKY-Flash constitutes a practical and effective approach to reducing exam anxiety among students, while also exploring their perceptions of the intervention.
Read the detailed description
Test anxiety is a common problem among university students, often linked to academic pressure, limited access to professional support, and stigma around seeking help. Students with high levels of test anxiety may experience stress, concentration problems, and reduced academic performance. While face-to-face psychological interventions can be effective, many students cannot benefit from them due to financial, logistical, or accessibility barriers.
This study introduces SKY-Flash, an internet-based version of the EMDR Flash technique. The program was designed as a self-help intervention that students can use independently, without therapist guidance. The aim is to reduce test anxiety and improve psychological well-being by adapting EMDR Flash procedures into an online format that is accessible, private, and user-friendly.
The research will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial with two groups: an intervention group and a wait-list control group. A total of 168 university students will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of the groups. Participants in the intervention group will complete a six-module online program based on EMDR Flash principles. The modules include interactive exercises, multimedia elements, and gamification features to support engagement and reduce dropout. The control group will not receive any intervention during the study period but will gain access to the program after follow-up assessments.
Data will be collected at three time points: pre-test, post-test, and one-month follow-up. Primary outcomes will be test anxiety, measured by the Westside Test Anxiety Scale. Secondary outcomes will include psychological well-being and usability feedback. In addition, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a subgroup of participants to gather in-depth information about usability and user experience.
The study is expected to show whether an online EMDR Flash intervention can effectively reduce test anxiety and improve well-being in university students. If effective, SKY-Flash may serve as a scalable, cost-effective, and stigma-free resource for students who struggle with test anxiety and have limited access to psychological services.
- Conditions
- Test Anxiety
- Being tested
- Internet-Based EMDR-Flash Program
- Keywords
- Internet-based intervention, EMDR Flash, Psychological Well-Being, University Students, Randomized Controlled Trial
- Medical subject headings
- Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Internet-Based EMDR-Flash ProgramBehavioural
Self-guided, internet-based EMDR-Flash program (SKY-Flash) tailored to reduce test anxiety in university students. Delivered via a secure web platform with no live therapist involvement. The intervention comprises six ~40-minute modules completed independently during the study. Each module includes brief psychoeducation and step-by-step EMDR-Flash procedures (focus on a positive engaging image with brief "flash" cues), guided practice, and in-platform exercises. Gamification (progress tracking, badges) and automated prompts support adherence. Unlike CBT-based online programs or clinician-delivered EMDR, this is a fully automated, low-intensity Flash protocol adapted to exam-related distress. Safety messaging and referral resources are embedded; access is via individual login and usage is recorded for adherence.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group - Internet-Based EMDR-Flash Program | Experimental | Participants in this group will receive the internet-based EMDR-Flash intervention designed to reduce test anxiety. The program includes structured online sessions where participants apply EMDR-Flash techniques in a unguided digital format. Receives: Behavioral: Internet-Based EMDR-Flash Program |
| Wait-list Control Group | No intervention | Participants assigned to this group will not receive the intervention during the study period. They will remain on a wait-list and will be offered access to the internet-based EMDR-Flash program after the completion of the study. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Test Anxiety (Westside Test Anxiety Scale Scores)
The primary outcome is the change in test anxiety levels, assessed with the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS). The WTAS is a validated self-report measure specifically developed to assess test-related anxiety and performance-impairing worry. Higher scores indicating greater test anxiety. This outcome will determine whether the internet-based EMDR-Flash intervention reduces participants' test anxiety compared to the control condition.
Measured: participants will be assessed at baseline (Week 0), immediately after the intervention (Week 6), and again at a follow-up point 10 weeks later
Change in Test Anxiety
The primary outcome is the change in test anxiety levels, assessed with the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS). The WTAS is a validated self-report measure specifically developed to assess test-related anxiety and performance-impairing worry. . This outcome will determine whether the internet-based EMDR-Flash intervention reduces participants' test anxiety compared to the control condition.
Measured: participants will be assessed at baseline (Week 0), immediately after the intervention (Week 6), and again at a follow-up point 10 weeks later
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in Psychological Well-Being (Psychological Well-Being Scale)
Psychological well-being will be measured using the Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale. The total score reflects overall well-being, with higher scores indicating greater psychological well-being. This outcome will evaluate whether the intervention improves students' well-being in addition to reducing test anxiety.
Measured: From baseline (Week 0) to post-intervention (Week 6), with follow-up assessments at Week 10.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Sep 2025
- Study start15 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Test AnxietyStudies 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This study uses a randomized, parallel assignment design. University students will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group or the wait-list control group. The intervention group will complete a six-module internet-based EMDR Flash program (SKY-Flash). The control group will not receive any intervention during the study period but will gain access to the program after follow-up assessments. Data will be collected at pre-test, post-test, and one-month follow-up to evaluate the effectiveness and usability of the intervention.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 168 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Burak Köksal, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University
- Investigators
- Burak Köksal, Dr., Principal investigator, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07154329
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 01.10.2024; 16.19
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 20 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 10 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be shared, including demographic information (age, gender, academic year), baseline and follow-up scores on the Test Anxiety Scale, PHQ-9, and WETSIDE measures. No personally identifiable information will be shared.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Examining the Effect of Internet-Based EMDR Flash Intervention (SKY-Flash) on University Students' Test Anxiety Levels and User Experiences
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07154329
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 01.10.2024; 16.19
- Conditions
- Test Anxiety
- Keywords
- Internet-based intervention, EMDR Flash, Psychological Well-Being, University Students, Randomized Controlled Trial
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 168 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Tokat Gaziosmanpasa UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
- Study start
- 15 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Sep 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.
The aim of this study is to investigate whether an Internet-based EMDR Flash intervention can help reduce exam anxiety among university students. Participants will utilize the online SKY-Flash program and report their levels of exam anxiety at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up assessments. In addition, the study will collect feedback regarding participants' overall experiences with the program. The primary objective is to determine whether SKY-Flash constitutes a practical and effective approach to reducing exam anxiety among students, while also exploring their perceptions of the intervention.
Detailed description
Test anxiety is a common problem among university students, often linked to academic pressure, limited access to professional support, and stigma around seeking help. Students with high levels of test anxiety may experience stress, concentration problems, and reduced academic performance. While face-to-face psychological interventions can be effective, many students cannot benefit from them due to financial, logistical, or accessibility barriers.
This study introduces SKY-Flash, an internet-based version of the EMDR Flash technique. The program was designed as a self-help intervention that students can use independently, without therapist guidance. The aim is to reduce test anxiety and improve psychological well-being by adapting EMDR Flash procedures into an online format that is accessible, private, and user-friendly.
The research will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial with two groups: an intervention group and a wait-list control group. A total of 168 university students will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of the groups. Participants in the intervention group will complete a six-module online program based on EMDR Flash principles. The modules include interactive exercises, multimedia elements, and gamification features to support engagement and reduce dropout. The control group will not receive any intervention during the study period but will gain access to the program after follow-up assessments.
Data will be collected at three time points: pre-test, post-test, and one-month follow-up. Primary outcomes will be test anxiety, measured by the Westside Test Anxiety Scale. Secondary outcomes will include psychological well-being and usability feedback. In addition, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a subgroup of participants to gather in-depth information about usability and user experience.
The study is expected to show whether an online EMDR Flash intervention can effectively reduce test anxiety and improve well-being in university students. If effective, SKY-Flash may serve as a scalable, cost-effective, and stigma-free resource for students who struggle with test anxiety and have limited access to psychological services.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This study uses a randomized, parallel assignment design. University students will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group or the wait-list control group. The intervention group will complete a six-module internet-based EMDR Flash program (SKY-Flash). The control group will not receive any intervention during the study period but will gain access to the program after follow-up assessments. Data will be collected at pre-test, post-test, and one-month follow-up to evaluate the effectiveness and usability of the intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group - Internet-Based EMDR-Flash Program | Experimental | Behavioral: Internet-Based EMDR-Flash ProgramParticipants in this group will receive the internet-based EMDR-Flash intervention designed to reduce test anxiety. The program includes structured online sessions where participants apply EMDR-Flash techniques in a unguided digital format. |
| Wait-list Control Group | No intervention | –Participants assigned to this group will not receive the intervention during the study period. They will remain on a wait-list and will be offered access to the internet-based EMDR-Flash program after the completion of the study. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Voluntary participation in the study Being older than 18 years and currently enrolled as a university student Having a valid e-mail address Having internet access (computer or mobile device) Scoring above the average on the Test Anxiety Scale Scoring below 15 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), based on established cutoff points
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Currently receiving psychological help from a psychologist, counselor, or psychiatrist Having any diagnosed psychiatric disorder
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Internet-Based EMDR-Flash ProgramSelf-guided, internet-based EMDR-Flash program (SKY-Flash) tailored to reduce test anxiety in university students. Delivered via a secure web platform with no live therapist involvement. The intervention comprises six ~40-minute modules completed independently during the study. Each module includes brief psychoeducation and step-by-step EMDR-Flash procedures (focus on a positive engaging image with brief "flash" cues), guided practice, and in-platform exercises. Gamification (progress tracking, badges) and automated prompts support adherence. Unlike CBT-based online programs or clinician-delivered EMDR, this is a fully automated, low-intensity Flash protocol adapted to exam-related distress. Safety messaging and referral resources are embedded; access is via individual login and usage is recorded for adherence. | Behavioural | Intervention Group - Internet-Based EMDR-Flash Program |
Primary outcome
Change in Test Anxiety (Westside Test Anxiety Scale Scores)
Time frame: participants will be assessed at baseline (Week 0), immediately after the intervention (Week 6), and again at a follow-up point 10 weeks later
The primary outcome is the change in test anxiety levels, assessed with the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS). The WTAS is a validated self-report measure specifically developed to assess test-related anxiety and performance-impairing worry. Higher scores indicating greater test anxiety. This outcome will determine whether the internet-based EMDR-Flash intervention reduces participants' test anxiety compared to the control condition.
Change in Test Anxiety
Time frame: participants will be assessed at baseline (Week 0), immediately after the intervention (Week 6), and again at a follow-up point 10 weeks later
The primary outcome is the change in test anxiety levels, assessed with the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS). The WTAS is a validated self-report measure specifically developed to assess test-related anxiety and performance-impairing worry. . This outcome will determine whether the internet-based EMDR-Flash intervention reduces participants' test anxiety compared to the control condition.
1 secondary outcome
Change in Psychological Well-Being (Psychological Well-Being Scale)
Time frame: From baseline (Week 0) to post-intervention (Week 6), with follow-up assessments at Week 10.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Sep 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be shared, including demographic information (age, gender, academic year), baseline and follow-up scores on the Test Anxiety Scale, PHQ-9, and WETSIDE measures. No personally identifiable information will be shared.
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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.
Murat Korkmaz, Lecturer contact
Burak Köksal, Dr. principal investigator
Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Internet-Based EMDR-Flash Program in people with Test Anxiety, run by Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University.
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 1 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Burak Köksal, Dr. (+905434375051, burak.koksal@gop.edu.tr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Test Anxiety (Westside Test Anxiety Scale Scores) (time frame: participants will be assessed at baseline (Week 0), immediately after the intervention (Week 6), and again at a follow-up point 10 weeks later). 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 10 Sep 2025.