Psychological StressSRIMSNCT07451145
Stress Reduction Program for Iraqi Medical Students
A study testing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program in people with Psychological Stress and Academic Stress, run by University of Thi-Qar at 1 site in Iraq.
Trial summary
A 4-week stress reduction program for medical students during exams, measuring effects on stress, heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones (ACTH, cortisol, DHEA). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Psychological Stress, Academic Stress
- What is being tested?
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 135 participants
- Where
- 1 siteIraq
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2024to 1 Jan 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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
Who may be able to join
- - Medical students at University of Thi-Qar College of Medicine
- Currently enrolled and preparing for examinations
- Age 18 years or older
- Willing to participate in 8 intervention sessions
- Able to provide informed consent
Who cannot join
- Current use of medications affecting HPA axis or cardiovascular function
- Diagnosed chronic medical or psychiatric conditions
- Pregnancy or lactation
- Previous participation in formal mindfulness or stress management training
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Stress Reduction Intervention on Psychological, Cardiovascular, and Neuroendocrine Outcomes in Iraqi Medical Students During Examinations
A 4-week stress reduction program for medical students during exams, measuring effects on stress, heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones (ACTH, cortisol, DHEA).
Read the detailed description
This single-group pre-post intervention study evaluates the effects of a culturally adapted 4-week stress-reduction program on psychological well-being, cardiovascular function, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones in Iraqi medical students during examinations. A total of 135 medical students participated in an 8-session mindfulness-based stress management program. Primary outcomes included perceived stress (0-10 visual analog scale), heart rate, blood pressure, and serum levels of ACTH, cortisol, and DHEA, measured before and after the intervention.
- Conditions
- Psychological Stress, Academic Stress
- Being tested
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program
- Keywords
- ACTH, Cortisol, DHEA, HPA axis, Stress reduction, Stress management, Mindfulness, Medical students, Academic stress, Psychological stress, Neuroendocrine, Iraq, Examination stress, Behavioral intervention, Stress hormones
- Medical subject headings
- Stress, Psychological
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction ProgramBehavioural
Culturally adapted 4-week stress reduction program including:
- 8 group sessions (2 per week, 90 minutes each)
- Mindfulness meditation techniques
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Breathing exercises
- Psychoeducation about stress
- Daily home practice (15-20 minutes)
- Led by trained facilitators
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Stress Reduction Intervention | Experimental | All 135 participants receive a 4-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program consisting of 8 group sessions (90 minutes each, twice weekly) plus daily home practice (15-20 minutes). Measurements taken at baseline and 4 weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Perceived Stress Score
Perceived Stress Score (0-10 visual analog scale)
Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks
ACTH Levels
Measure: Levels (pg/mL)
Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks
Cortisol Levels
Measure: Cortisol Levels (µg/dL)
Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks
DHEA Levels
Measure: DHEA Levels (ng/mL)
Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Heart Rate
Measure: Heart Rate (bpm)
Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks
Blood Pressure
Measure: Blood Pressure (mmHg) - Systolic and Diastolic
Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Mar 2026
- Study start1 Oct 2024
- Primary completion1 Jan 2025
- Study completion1 Jan 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Psychological StressStudies 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Single-group pre-post intervention study. All 135 participants received an identical 8-session mindfulness-based stress reduction program delivered over 4 weeks. Outcome measures (stress, ACTH, cortisol, DHEA, heart rate, blood pressure) were assessed at baseline before the intervention and again at 4 weeks after program completion.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 135 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Thi-Qar
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Adel Gassab Mohammed, University of Thi-Qar
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07451145
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IQ. UTQ. MED. 2025. 0081
- Other IDs
- Ethics approval IQ. UTQ. MED.
- Acronym
- SRIMS
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Individual participant data collected for all primary and secondary outcome measures, including perceived stress scores, heart rate, blood pressure, and serum hormone levels (ACTH, cortisol, DHEA), along with demographic variables (age, sex) and intervention attendance data.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Stress Reduction Intervention on Psychological, Cardiovascular, and Neuroendocrine Outcomes in Iraqi Medical Students During Examinations
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07451145
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SRIMS / IQ. UTQ. MED. 2025. 0081
- Conditions
- Psychological Stress, Academic Stress
- Keywords
- ACTH, Cortisol, DHEA, HPA axis, Stress reduction, Stress management, Mindfulness, Medical students
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 135 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Thi-QarUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jan 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Mar 2026 (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.
A 4-week stress reduction program for medical students during exams, measuring effects on stress, heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones (ACTH, cortisol, DHEA).
Detailed description
This single-group pre-post intervention study evaluates the effects of a culturally adapted 4-week stress-reduction program on psychological well-being, cardiovascular function, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones in Iraqi medical students during examinations. A total of 135 medical students participated in an 8-session mindfulness-based stress management program. Primary outcomes included perceived stress (0-10 visual analog scale), heart rate, blood pressure, and serum levels of ACTH, cortisol, and DHEA, measured before and after the intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Single-group pre-post intervention study. All 135 participants received an identical 8-session mindfulness-based stress reduction program delivered over 4 weeks. Outcome measures (stress, ACTH, cortisol, DHEA, heart rate, blood pressure) were assessed at baseline before the intervention and again at 4 weeks after program completion.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Stress Reduction Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction ProgramAll 135 participants receive a 4-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program consisting of 8 group sessions (90 minutes each, twice weekly) plus daily home practice (15-20 minutes). Measurements taken at baseline and 4 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- - Medical students at University of Thi-Qar College of Medicine
- Currently enrolled and preparing for examinations
- Age 18 years or older
- Willing to participate in 8 intervention sessions
- Able to provide informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Current use of medications affecting HPA axis or cardiovascular function
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction ProgramCulturally adapted 4-week stress reduction program including: * 8 group sessions (2 per week, 90 minutes each) * Mindfulness meditation techniques * Progressive muscle relaxation * Breathing exercises * Psychoeducation about stress * Daily home practice (15-20 minutes) * Led by trained facilitators | Behavioural | Stress Reduction Intervention |
Primary outcome
Perceived Stress Score
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
Perceived Stress Score (0-10 visual analog scale)
ACTH Levels
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
Measure: Levels (pg/mL)
Cortisol Levels
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
Measure: Cortisol Levels (µg/dL)
DHEA Levels
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
Measure: DHEA Levels (ng/mL)
2 secondary outcomes
Heart Rate
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
Blood Pressure
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
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 5 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Individual participant data collected for all primary and secondary outcome measures, including perceived stress scores, heart rate, blood pressure, and serum hormone levels (ACTH, cortisol, DHEA), along with demographic variables (age, sex) and intervention attendance data.
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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. 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?
A study testing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program in people with Psychological Stress and Academic Stress, run by University of Thi-Qar at 1 site in Iraq.
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 4 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 5 Mar 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 Iraq. 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?
Perceived Stress Score (time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks). The study lists 4 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 5 Mar 2026.