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tAVNS for Stress Reduction in University Students
Sponsor: Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) works to reduce perceived stress and psychological distress in university students with high distress levels. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does taVNS reduce perceived stress (measured by PSS-10) in university students with high psychological distress? * Does taVNS reduce psychological distress (measured by K10) in university students with high psychological distress? * Is the intervention feasible and tolerable for implementation in higher-education mental health support? Researchers will compare taVNS (electrode placed on the left tragus) to a sham stimulation group (electrode placed on the left earlobe) to see if taVNS reduces stress and distress. Participants will: * Attend five consecutive daily 30-minute stimulation sessions * Complete stress and distress questionnaires before the intervention, immediately after, and at 1-month follow-up * Receive electrical stimulation at individually adjusted intensity using the Nurosym device (pulse width 250 µs, frequency 20 Hz).
Official title: Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Perceived Stress and Psychological Distress in University Students With High Distress Levels: A Randomized Blinded Clinical Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
40
Start Date
2025-01-10
Completion Date
2025-06-10
Last Updated
2026-04-08
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
taVNS
Non-invasive electrical stimulation delivered via the Nurosym device targeting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. Electrode placement on the left tragus. Parameters: pulse width 250 µs, frequency 20 Hz, intensity individually adjusted to perception threshold. Five consecutive daily 30-minute sessions.
Sham
Non-invasive electrical stimulation delivered via the Nurosym device with electrode placement on the left earlobe. Identical parameters to active intervention (taVNS): pulse width 250 µs, frequency 20 Hz, intensity individually adjusted to perception threshold. Five consecutive daily 30-minute sessions.
Locations (1)
Egas Moniz School of Health & Science
Almada, Setúbal District, Portugal