Bloodcurdling movies and measures of coagulation: Fear Factor crossover trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess whether, as has been hypothesised since medieval times, acute fear can curdle blood.

Design

Crossover trial.

Setting

Main meeting room of Leiden University's Department of Clinical Epidemiology, the Netherlands, converted to a makeshift cinema.

Participants

24 healthy volunteers aged ≤30 years recruited among students, alumni, and employees of the Leiden University Medical Center: 14 were assigned to watch a frightening (horror) movie followed by a non-threatening (educational) movie and 10 to watch the movies in reverse order. The movies were viewed more than a week apart at the same time of day and both lasted approximately 90 minutes.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome measures were markers, or "fear factors" of coagulation

SUBMITTER: Nemeth B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4987722 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature