THE EFFECT OF GUİDED IMAGERY ON PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME

NCT07202650 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: KA24/415
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 48
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

EFFECT OF GUIDED IMAGERY ON PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a condition characterized by physical, behavioral, and emotional symptoms that appear at the end of the luteal phase, 7-10 days before menstruation, and resolve with the onset of menstruation. Symptoms include irritability, loss of control, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, decreased concentration, unexplained crying, fatigue, weakness, changes in appetite, edema, headaches, joint and muscle pain, breast tenderness, altered sexual activity, and social withdrawal. In young women, PMS can negatively affect self-confidence, social relationships, quality of life, and academic performance. PMS treatment aims to relieve both physical and psychological symptoms and may include dietary supplements and complementary-alternative therapies. Approaches such as reflexology, pilates, acupressure, music, exercise, and guided imagery have shown promising results in reducing premenstrual symptoms. Mind-body-based approaches in complementary therapies are known to support psychological well-being. Guided imagery, a form of mind-body communication, involves the flow of thoughts and the way the mind encodes, stores, and expresses sensory information. It is based on the understanding that the mind and body are interconnected and that mental processes can influence physical responses. Guided imagery has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, enhance sleep quality, strengthen the immune system, reduce fatigue, and minimize nausea and vomiting. Although effective, research on the use of guided imagery to reduce PMS symptoms in university students is limited. This study aims to investigate the effect of guided imagery on premenstrual syndrome in this population.

Conditions

Guided Imagery; Premenstrual Syndrome; Nursing

Keywords

premenstrual syndrome; guided imagery; university students; quality of life

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• premenstrual syndrome

  The Premenstrual Syndrome Scale, developed by Gençdoğan (2006), is a five-point Likert-type instrument consisting of 44 items designed to assess the severity of premenstrual symptoms, based on DSM-III and DSM-IV-R criteria. In scoring, responses are rated as follows: "None" = 1 point, "Very little" = 2 points, "Sometimes" = 3 points, "Often" = 4 points, and "Always" = 5 points.

  two months

Study Arms (2)

intervention group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

At baseline, students in both the intervention and control groups will complete the Introductory Characteristics Data Collection Form, the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale, and the WHO Quality of Life Scale. Students in the intervention group with high PMS scores will be instructed to practice guided imagery for 15 minutes daily during two consecutive menstrual cycles-specifically, during the seven days prior to menstruation when symptoms begin and the first four days of menstruation. The control group will receive no intervention. Throughout the study, intervention group participants will complete the Menstrual Cycle Follow-up Form and the Guided Imagery Follow-up Form, while control group participants will complete only the Menstrual Cycle Follow-up Form. After two cycles, both groups will again complete the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale and the WHO Quality of Life Scale.

Behavioral: guided imagery

control group

NO INTERVENTION

At baseline, students in both the intervention and control groups will complete the Introductory Characteristics Data Collection Form, the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale, and the WHO Quality of Life Scale. No intervention will be applied to the control group; however, they will be asked to complete the Menstrual Cycle Follow-up Form throughout the study. After two menstrual cycles, both groups will again complete the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale and the WHO Quality of Life Scale.

Interventions

guided imagery BEHAVIORAL

Guided imagery is a form of mind-body communication, defined as a flow of thoughts involving what we smell, taste, see, hear, and touch, or as the way the mind encodes, stores, and retrieves information. Guided imagery is based on the understanding that the mind and body are interconnected and that the mind can influence bodily functions. Stress and anxiety directly affect the brain and the immune system.

intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Gender Eligibility Details: Women participants
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Regular menstrual cycles (21-35 days over the last three cycles)
• Age 18 years or older
• No medical treatment for PMS
• Ability to communicate effectively in Turkish
• No psychiatric diagnosis or gynecological disorder (e.g., abnormal uterine bleeding, myoma, ovarian cysts)
• A score \>89 on the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS)
• No prior participation in guided imagery training

You may not qualify if:

• Failure to perform guided imagery at the correct time or in the prescribed manner
• Irregular menstruation during the last three months
• Use of contraceptives
• Use of analgesics during menstruation while participating in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Baskent University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Başkent University

Ankara, 06790, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Premenstrual Syndrome

Interventions

Imagery, Psychotherapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Menstruation Disturbances; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Central Study Contacts

Cansu Akdag Topal, Assisstant professor

CONTACT

+905545386987; cansua05@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 24, 2025
• First Posted: October 2, 2025
• Study Start (Estimated): May 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 15, 2026
• Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)