Abstract
M.Tech. (Homoeopathy)
Psychological stress refers to an individual’s interaction with what he perceives as adverse or threatening phenomena of the external environment (stimulus) and the ensuing physiological response that occurs within the body. Although the stimulus itself may not be harmful, the physiological reaction of the individual to the perceived threat may lead to health consequences. University students may experience greater levels of stress than the average population. They may also experience symptoms of anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances and impaired memory due to psychological stress. These symptoms may be exacerbated by concomitant use of alcohol and stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine, which students may use as coping mechanisms. Conventional treatment for stress might include anti-depressants and anxiolytics that often have adverse effects. TranQuin® Day Formula is a combination vitamin and herbal supplement formulated to assist the body to cope with stress. Although each individual vitamin and herbal constituent of TranQuin® Day Formula has been thoroughly researched, to date, no research has been conducted on the efficacy of TranQuin® Day Formula dietary supplement for the treatment of psychological stress in university students.
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of TranQuin® Day Formula supplement on psychological stress in university students, with the use of the Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) and Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28).
Thirty participants, both male and female, between the ages of 18 and 49 years, who obtained a minimum score of 10 on the Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale-10, were selected to participate in this six week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Participants were also requested to complete Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire-28. The scores obtained by the participants on both stress scales were measured at the beginning of the study (week 0) to obtain a baseline score, in the middle of the study (week 3) and at the end of the study (week 6). The participants were randomly divided into the control and experimental groups. Participants were asked to take two capsules of the supplement or placebo, preferably in the morning after breakfast, or the first meal of the day, for the duration of the study period (6 weeks). Each participant received a daily data sheet which recorded capsules taken and any symptoms experienced, as well as any other medication taken. The results of the study were statistically analysed using the Mann-Whitney-U Test, the Shapiro-Wilk Test, the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, Friedman Test and descriptive statistics.