Impact of Repeated Virtual Reality Training on Markers of Stress

NCT07770880 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IRB #10320
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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. Specifically, this study will determine whether the pattern and magnitude of stress habituation differ between the two VR conditions.

Conditions

Stress; Virtual Reality; Law Enforcement Training; Acute Stress Reaction; Active Shooter

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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• 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.

  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.

  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 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 using the saliva samples taken at timepoints 1-4 (20 min pre, immediately pre, immediately post, 15 min post)

Study Arms (2)

Active Shooter

EXPERIMENTAL

Group assigned to active shooter scenarios only

Other: Active Shooter

Target Practice

EXPERIMENTAL

Group assigned to two target practice scenarios and one active shooter scenario for the third trial only.

Other: Target Practice

Interventions

Active Shooter OTHER

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).

Active Shooter

Target Practice OTHER

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.

Target Practice

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 39 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Generally healthy
• Between the ages of 18-39
• Student at texas state

You may not qualify if:

• 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.).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Texas State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas, 78666, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute

Interventions

Mass Shooting Events

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mass Casualty Incidents; Disasters; Environment; Environment and Public Health

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups, active shooter (AS) or target practice (TP).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 13, 2026
• First Posted: August 18, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2026
• Study Completion: May 1, 2026
• Last Updated: August 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)