Anxiety
Conditions
Keywords
Dreaming, Sleep, Dream
Brief summary
In this study, the investigators will compare traditional lucid dream induction techniques, stress reduction strategies, and sleep hygiene across three study groups: (1) lucid dream and stress reduction techniques, and sleep hygiene; (2) lucid dream reduction and sleep hygiene; and (3) sleep hygiene. Participants will be first-year occupational therapy students embarking upon their first full-time 3-month clinical internship. Enrolled participants will be randomized to one of the three groups. The intervention will span 12 weeks and allow for participants to learn about and practice lucid dream induction, stress management, and sleep hygiene in bi-monthly online group sessions and through daily home exercises.
Detailed description
A significant impediment to completing academic health care programs is student stress level, which have been reported to be increasing in the last decade. Many students are not prepared for the rigor and intensity of their first clinical internship and experience exacerbations of stress and anxiety at this time. There is evidence that lucid dream induction methods have effectively alleviated stress and anxiety in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression in community dwelling adults. Although lucid dream techniques have been used to manage anxiety in some populations, it has never been used to help health care students on clinical internship experiencing heightened stress levels. In this study, the investigators aim to determine whether lucid dream induction techniques combined with stress management and sleep hygiene could effectively help students on their first clinical internship to better manage stress and anxiety. The investigators hope to gain a greater understanding of which of three study conditions can best alleviate stress and anxiety in participants.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALLucid Dream
Lucid dream techniques are a set of strategies to induce the ability to obtain conscious awareness during the dream state and include mental suggestions before sleep.
BEHAVIORALStress Reduction
Stress reduction techniques are a set of strategies designed to reduce anxiety and include meditation and guided imagery.
BEHAVIORALSleep Hygiene Techniques
Sleep hygiene is a set of techniques intended to enhance sleep quality and quantity and include maintaining consistent sleep-wake times and avoiding stimulating activities before bed.
Sponsors
Columbia University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Masking description
No masking
Intervention model description
Three group, randomized, controlled design
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Current occupational therapy student attending Columbia University and participating in clinical internship
Exclusion criteria
* none
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Perceived Stress Scale | Week 12 | The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a 10-item, 6-point, self-report Likert scale (0 = no stress, 5 = high stress) that requires 5 minutes to complete. The scale yields a total score ranging from 0 (no stress) to 50 (highest stress) with scores 25+ indicating a possible stress disorder. The PSS measures stress level in the last month and was intended for use by community-dwelling adults. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lucidity and Consciousness Dream Scale | Week 12 | The Lucidity and Consciousness Dream Scale (LuCiD) is a 28-item, 6-point self-report Likert scale (0 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree) that requires 10 minutes to complete. The scale yields a total score ranging from 0 (no experience of lucid dreaming) to 140 (highest experience of lucid dreaming) with scores 70+ indicating moderate to high lucid dream activity. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed