Auricular stimulation vs. expressive writing for exam anxiety in medical students - A randomized crossover investigation.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Auricular stimulation (AS) is a promising method in the treatment of situational anxiety. Expressive writing (EW) is an established psychological method, which reduces test anxiety and improves exam results. The aim of this crossover trial was to compare AS with EW, and with the no intervention (NI) condition, for treatment of exam anxiety.

Methods

Healthy medical students underwent 3 comparable anatomy exams with an interval of one month, either performing EW, receiving AS or NI prior to the exam; the order of interventions was randomized. AS was applied using indwelling fixed needles bilaterally at the areas innervated mostly by the auricular branch of the vagal nerve on the day before the exam. Anxiety level, measured using State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory (STAI) b

SUBMITTER: Usichenko T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7451547 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature