An interventional study of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program in Psychological Stress and Academic Stress, sponsored by University of Thi-Qar. Completed at 1 site in Iraq. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-05.
Sponsored by University of Thi-Qar · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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).
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.
844 studies on the registry are indexed under Stress, Psychological; 136 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 135 is above the median of 84 across 688 interventional studies indexed under Stress, Psychological.
Browse Stress, Psychological studies →University of Thi-Qar is the lead sponsor of 2 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Current use of medications affecting HPA axis or cardiovascular function
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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.
Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program
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
Perceived Stress Score
Perceived Stress Score (0-10 visual analog scale)
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
ACTH Levels
Measure: Levels (pg/mL)
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
Cortisol Levels
Measure: Cortisol Levels (µg/dL)
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
DHEA Levels
Measure: DHEA Levels (ng/mL)
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
Heart Rate
Measure: Heart Rate (bpm)
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
Blood Pressure
Measure: Blood Pressure (mmHg) - Systolic and Diastolic
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
Plan to share: 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.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form, Clinical study report, Analytic code
Time frame: Beginning 6 months and ending 5 years following article publication
Access criteria: Requests directed to adelgassab@utq.edu.iq. Requestors must provide methodologically sound proposal and sign data access agreement.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in Feb 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Thi-Qar