StressNCT07770880
Impact of Repeated Virtual Reality Training on Markers of Stress
A study testing Active Shooter and Target Practice in people with Stress and Acute Stress Reaction, run by Texas State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to examine whether repeated exposure to an active shooter or target practice virtual reality (VR) scenario alters physiological and psychological stress responses over time. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 39 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Stress, Acute Stress Reaction, Virtual Reality
- What is being tested?
- Active Shooter and Target Practice
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2025to 1 May 2026
- 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 to 39 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Generally healthy
- Between the ages of 18-39
- Student at texas state
Who cannot join
- No known cardiovascular or metabolic diseases
- Free from a major stressor in the last 30 days (recent divorce, birth of child, miscarriage, etc.)
- Not currently taking medication that can impact results (e.g., psychiatric medication typically prescribed for psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, etc.)
- Must also be free from any known psychiatric or physical illness (e.g., diabetes, myocardial infarction, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, alcoholism, epilepsy, severe motion sickness, etc.).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Impact of Repeated Virtual Reality Based Law Enforcement Training on Stress Reactivity and Tactical Decision Making
The purpose of this study is to examine whether repeated exposure to an active shooter or target practice virtual reality (VR) scenario alters physiological and psychological stress responses over time. Specifically, this study will determine whether the pattern and magnitude of stress habituation differ between the two VR conditions.
Read the detailed description
This study examines the effects of repeated virtual reality (VR) exposure on physiological and psychological stress responses by comparing an active shooter scenario with a target practice scenario. Repeated exposure to a stressor may result in changes in physiological and psychological responses over time, a process known as stress habituation. Therefore, the goal of this study is to determine whether repeated exposure to these two VR scenarios results in different patterns of stress habituation. Heart rate, salivary stress biomarkers, and self-reported anxiety will be assessed across repeated VR exposures to evaluate changes in stress responses over time. The findings from this research may provide insight into how stress responses change with repeated exposure to different types of VR scenarios and may inform the development of training approaches for individuals in high-stress occupations.
- Being tested
- Active Shooter, Target Practice
- Keywords
- Stress, Stress biomarkers, Salivary Alpha-Amylase (sAA), Salivary Secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA), Acute stress, State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) scale, Active shooter, Virtual Reality (VR) training, Law enforcement training, Target practice
- Medical subject headings
- Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Active ShooterOther
Participants experienced a virtual reality simulation lasting ~3 minutes. Participants took on the roll of a law enforcement officer responding to an active shooter situation in a gas station (trial 1), home (trial 2), and school (trial 3).
Target PracticeOther
Participants experienced a virtual reality simulation lasting ~3 minutes. Participants had two trials of target practice training and one trial of an active shooter scenario where they responded as a law enforcement officer in a school.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Active Shooter | Experimental | Group assigned to active shooter scenarios only Receives: Other: Active Shooter |
| Target Practice | Experimental | Group assigned to two target practice scenarios and one active shooter scenario for the third trial only. Receives: Other: Target Practice |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
State Anxiety Inventory (SAI)
The SAI is a 6 question survey on a 24 point scale, asking the subject to record how they feel. Questions asked were "I am calm," I am tense," "I am worried," "I am relaxed," etc. Subjects were asked to fill this out 4 times throughout the study, alongside HR and saliva samples.
Measured: Timepoint 1-4 were 20 minutes pre, immediately pre, immediately post, and 15 minutes post
Heart Rate
Heart rate was recorded immediately prior to each saliva sample using a Polar Verity Sense heart rate wrist/arm strap.
Measured: HR was recorded 4 times, before each saliva sample period
Secretory Immunoglobulin-A
SIgA is a marker of immune function and salivary SIgA concentrations tend to increase when exposed to stress
Measured: Measured using the saliva samples taken at timepoints 1-4 (20 min pre, immediately pre, immediately post, 15 min post)
Salivary Alpha Amylase
sAA is an enzyme involved in digestive processes. Amylase concentrations in saliva have been shown to reflect sympathetic stress. Thus, as sympathetic stress increases, salivary amylase concentrations tend to increase.
Measured: Measured using the saliva samples taken at timepoints 1-4 (20 min pre, immediately pre, immediately post, 15 min post)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Aug 2026
- Study start1 Oct 2025
- Primary completion1 May 2026
- Study completion1 May 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for 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
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups, active shooter (AS) or target practice (TP).
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Texas State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Matt McAllister, Texas State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07770880
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB #10320
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 18 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: IRB at Texas State does not allow the sharing of individual data, and all data has already been made unidentifiable for this study.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Impact of Repeated Virtual Reality Based Law Enforcement Training on Stress Reactivity and Tactical Decision Making
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07770880
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB #10320
- Keywords
- Stress, Stress biomarkers, Salivary Alpha-Amylase (sAA), Salivary Secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA), Acute stress, State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) scale, Active shooter, Virtual Reality (VR) training
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Texas State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 May 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 18 Aug 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.
The purpose of this study is to examine whether repeated exposure to an active shooter or target practice virtual reality (VR) scenario alters physiological and psychological stress responses over time. Specifically, this study will determine whether the pattern and magnitude of stress habituation differ between the two VR conditions.
Detailed description
This study examines the effects of repeated virtual reality (VR) exposure on physiological and psychological stress responses by comparing an active shooter scenario with a target practice scenario. Repeated exposure to a stressor may result in changes in physiological and psychological responses over time, a process known as stress habituation. Therefore, the goal of this study is to determine whether repeated exposure to these two VR scenarios results in different patterns of stress habituation. Heart rate, salivary stress biomarkers, and self-reported anxiety will be assessed across repeated VR exposures to evaluate changes in stress responses over time. The findings from this research may provide insight into how stress responses change with repeated exposure to different types of VR scenarios and may inform the development of training approaches for individuals in high-stress occupations.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups, active shooter (AS) or target practice (TP).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Active Shooter | Experimental | Other: Active ShooterGroup assigned to active shooter scenarios only |
| Target Practice | Experimental | Other: Target PracticeGroup assigned to two target practice scenarios and one active shooter scenario for the third trial only. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 39 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Generally healthy
- Between the ages of 18-39
- Student at texas state
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- No known cardiovascular or metabolic diseases
- Free from a major stressor in the last 30 days (recent divorce, birth of child, miscarriage, etc.)
- Not currently taking medication that can impact results (e.g., psychiatric medication typically prescribed for psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, etc.)
- Must also be free from any known psychiatric or physical illness (e.g., diabetes, myocardial infarction, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, alcoholism, epilepsy, severe motion sickness, etc.).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Active ShooterParticipants experienced a virtual reality simulation lasting ~3 minutes. Participants took on the roll of a law enforcement officer responding to an active shooter situation in a gas station (trial 1), home (trial 2), and school (trial 3). | Other | Active Shooter |
| Target PracticeParticipants experienced a virtual reality simulation lasting ~3 minutes. Participants had two trials of target practice training and one trial of an active shooter scenario where they responded as a law enforcement officer in a school. | Other | Target Practice |
Primary outcome
State Anxiety Inventory (SAI)
Time frame: Timepoint 1-4 were 20 minutes pre, immediately pre, immediately post, and 15 minutes post
The SAI is a 6 question survey on a 24 point scale, asking the subject to record how they feel. Questions asked were "I am calm," I am tense," "I am worried," "I am relaxed," etc. Subjects were asked to fill this out 4 times throughout the study, alongside HR and saliva samples.
Heart Rate
Time frame: HR was recorded 4 times, before each saliva sample period
Heart rate was recorded immediately prior to each saliva sample using a Polar Verity Sense heart rate wrist/arm strap.
Secretory Immunoglobulin-A
Time frame: Measured using the saliva samples taken at timepoints 1-4 (20 min pre, immediately pre, immediately post, 15 min post)
SIgA is a marker of immune function and salivary SIgA concentrations tend to increase when exposed to stress
Salivary Alpha Amylase
Time frame: Measured using the saliva samples taken at timepoints 1-4 (20 min pre, immediately pre, immediately post, 15 min post)
sAA is an enzyme involved in digestive processes. Amylase concentrations in saliva have been shown to reflect sympathetic stress. Thus, as sympathetic stress increases, salivary amylase concentrations tend to increase.
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 18 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. IRB at Texas State does not allow the sharing of individual data, and all data has already been made unidentifiable for this study.
Related trials for Stress
Not yet recruiting
Effect of Stress Ball Use During Femoral Arterial Sheath Removal After Coronary Angiography
Femoral Arterial Sheath Removal, Stress Ball
Recruiting
Effect of a Brief Daily Digital Meditation on Well-Being in US Young Adults (BEGIN II)
Mental Health and General Well-being
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Periodontal Status and Biomarkers in MASLD
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)
Recruiting
NightWare and Cardiovascular Health in Women With PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Cardiovascular Diseases
Active, not recruiting
Intervention to Address Disparate Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 Pandemic on Latinx and African Newcomers
Mental Health Issue, Mental Health 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.
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 Active Shooter and Target Practice in people with Stress and Acute Stress Reaction, run by Texas State University 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 3 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 18 Aug 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 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?
State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) (time frame: Timepoint 1-4 were 20 minutes pre, immediately pre, immediately post, and 15 minutes post). 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 18 Aug 2026.