AzTrials
AzTrials

Dysfunctional BreathingNCT07228910

Respiratory and Anxiety Status of Music Students

An observational study of Dysfunctional Breathing and Breathing Patterns, run by Pamukkale University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This study aims to determine the prevalence and patterns of dysfunctional breathing (DB) among music students and to investigate its relationship with music performance anxiety (MPA). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Dysfunctional Breathing, Breathing Patterns
How many people
275 participants
Where
1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates
1 Dec 2025to 31 Jan 2026
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 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Music department students from three different universities (Munzur University, Gaziantep University and, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University) will be invited to our study.

Who may be able to join

  • Being a student of music department
  • Playing an instrument for at least 1 year
  • Volunteer

Who cannot join

  • Having any respiratory disease (Asthma , COPD etc.)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
  • Gaziantep University

    Gaziantep, Şahinbey, 27310

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Official title: Relationship Between Dysfunctional Breathing, Respiratory Patterns, and Performance Anxiety in Music Students

This study aims to determine the prevalence and patterns of dysfunctional breathing (DB) among music students and to investigate its relationship with music performance anxiety (MPA). Dysfunctional breathing, also known as a breathing pattern disorder, refers to maladaptive respiratory patterns not explained by medical conditions such as asthma and is associated with symptoms like hyperventilation, poor breathing control, and abnormal respiratory mechanics. Given that MPA is common among musicians and often accompanied by symptoms such as palpitations, tremor, and shortness of breath, this study explores whether DB contributes to or is influenced by performance-related anxiety in this population.

Read the detailed description

Dysfunctional breathing (DB) represents a spectrum of maladaptive respiratory patterns that cannot be explained by an underlying medical condition. It may involve biomechanical, biochemical, or psychophysiological components, including abnormal breathing mechanics, altered carbon dioxide regulation, and stress-related breathing irregularities. Previous research has suggested that DB can exacerbate symptoms in conditions such as asthma, migraine, orofacial pain, and temporomandibular disorders.

Music performance anxiety (MPA), a common issue among music students and professional musicians, manifests through both psychological and physiological symptoms. Among these, respiratory complaints such as dyspnea, breath-holding, or hyperventilation are frequently reported. Despite this, the potential overlap between DB and MPA has not been adequately investigated.

This cross-sectional study will assess 233 music students using validated self-report questionnaires to evaluate dysfunctional breathing patterns and levels of music performance anxiety. The study seeks to identify the prevalence of DB in this population and to explore possible associations between breathing dysfunction and anxiety related to musical performance. Findings may contribute to a better understanding of respiratory-related mechanisms underlying performance anxiety and inform preventive or therapeutic strategies for musicians.

Keywords
Dysfunctional breathing, Breathing patterns, Music students, Music performance anxiety

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Dysfunctional breathing

    An umbrella term used to describe a harmful adaptation in breathing that cannot be explained by a medical diagnosis such as asthma. The Self Evaluation of Breathing Questionnaire (SEBQ) will be used to assess dysfunctional breathing. The SEBQ is a scale developed to identify the nature of unexplained symptoms commonly reported by individuals with dysfunctional breathing. It was designed to capture all domains of respiratory symptoms, regardless of whether the individual has hyperventilation syndrome. The questionnaire consists of 25 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 to 3 (0 = never / not true at all, 1 = occasionally / somewhat true, 2 = often / mostly true, 3 = very often / very true). Higher scores indicate a greater degree of breathing dysfunction

    Measured: 15 minutes drom enrollment

  2. Breathing pattern

    The Breathing Pattern Assessment Tool (BPAT) will be used to assess breathing pattern. The BPAT is a clinician-administered assessment developed to evaluate breathing pattern disorders. Its validity has been confirmed for screening breathing pattern dysfunction in patients with asthma or unexplained dyspnea. During the assessment, the participant is seated in a chair with back support while the clinician evaluates seven components of the breathing pattern: abdominal and chest wall movements, inspiratory and expiratory sounds, sighing or other signs of air hunger, nasal and oral breathing, breathing rate, and rhythmicity of the pattern. Each item is scored from 0 to 2, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 14. Higher scores indicate a greater likelihood of breathing pattern disorder. A total score of ≥4 is considered a positive screen, with a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 75%.

    Measured: 15-30 minutes from enrollment

  3. Music performance anxiety

    The Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI) will be used to assess the level and underlying causes of music performance anxiety. T. The inventory consists of 25 items grouped under five subscales: (1) Negative Performance Perception (items 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25), (2) Psychological Vulnerability (items 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 12, 21), (3) Somatic Anxiety (item 4), (4) Personal Control (item 17), and (5) Physiological Vulnerability (item 20). Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree), yielding a total score between 0 and 150. Scores of 105 and above indicate high music performance anxiety, whereas scores of 45 and below indicate low anxiety levels.

    Measured: 30-45 minutes from enrollment

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 Nov 2025
  2. Study start1 Dec 2025
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2025
  4. Study completion31 Jan 2026

Resources

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
Other
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrolment
275 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07228910
Sponsor's protocol ID
Music
Status last verified
Sep 2026
First submitted
13 Nov 2025
Last updated
18 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Dysfunctional Breathing and Breathing Patterns, run by Pamukkale University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

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 3 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Sep 2026. 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?

Dysfunctional breathing (time frame: 15 minutes drom enrollment). The study lists 3 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 18 Sep 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in