Music and Visual Arts for Teen Mental Health

(SMART Trial)

Not currently recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Pablo Ripolles, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: New York University

Disqualifiers: Age not 13-16, MEG/MRI contraindications, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 24

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether arts-based digital activities can positively change teenagers' social media use and help counteract negative effects like depression and anxiety. Participants will engage in a three-month program focused on music composition, photography, or no activity (control group). The Music and Visual Arts Digital Intervention aims to determine if these activities can improve mood, mental health, and cognitive skills such as attention and thinking. The trial seeks teens aged 13-16 who feel affected by social media use and want to try a creative approach to manage it. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for teens to explore innovative ways to enhance their mental well-being through creativity.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that digital arts activities, such as the music and visual arts treatments in this study, are generally safe for teenagers. Past studies have found these activities well-received, with no major side effects reported, meaning participants did not experience serious health issues.

The music activity involves creating and editing music using digital tools. This method avoids medicine and medical procedures, reducing the risk of physical side effects. Similarly, the photography activity uses digital tools to create and edit pictures and is also non-invasive.

Overall, these activities aim to be fun and safe, focusing on creative tasks to help improve mental health and social media use among teenagers. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using music and visual arts as digital interventions for teen mental health because they offer a creative and engaging approach that differs from traditional therapies like medication and talk therapy. The music and photography composition interventions encourage self-expression and creativity, which can be particularly appealing to teens. These interventions also harness digital platforms, making them more accessible and relatable to young people who are already familiar with technology. Additionally, integrating arts with mental health treatment could have unique benefits, potentially improving mood and reducing social media-related stress through enjoyable activities.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for teen mental health?

This trial will compare the effects of different digital interventions on teen mental health. Research has shown that music-based activities can greatly benefit teenagers' mental health and cognitive skills. Participants in the "Music Composition / Edition" arm will engage in music creation, which studies indicate often lifts mood and reduces feelings of depression and anxiety. It also enhances brain connections and cognitive abilities like attention and decision-making. Meanwhile, the "Photography Composition / Edition" arm will focus on visual arts activities. Digital mental health tools for teens, such as these interventions, have shown promise in managing mental health by offering structured and engaging activities using familiar technology. Both music creation and visual arts activities aim to provide teenagers with new ways to use digital media, potentially reducing the negative effects of excessive social media use. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy teenagers aged 13-16 who may experience the impact of social media on their mental health. It's designed to see if creative digital activities like making music or photography can lead to healthier social media habits and improve mood, attention, and overall mental well-being.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 13 and 16 years old.

Parents of child participants willing to answer questions about their child

Participants must not have any contraindications for completing MEG or MRI scans

Exclusion Criteria

I am not between the ages of 13 and 16.

Participants with contraindications for MEG or MRI scans for optional neuroimaging measures

Parents who are not parents of a child enrolled in the study

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in a 3-month arts-based digital intervention, either in music composition or photography, with weekly self-reporting on mood and social media usage.

12 weeks

24 sessions (in-person, twice a week)

Follow-up

Participants complete a post-intervention evaluation to assess changes in cognitive performance, mental health, and social media usage.

2 weeks

Optional Control Group Intervention

Control group participants are offered the opportunity to complete the intervention of their choice after the study.

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Music and Visual Arts Digital Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests if a 3-month program of digital art creation (music composition or photography editing) can positively influence teens' social media use and mental health. Participants will also be part of discussions about social media, with evaluations before and after the intervention.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Music Composition / Edition Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Teenage participants assigned to the 'Music Composition / Edition' (MUS) intervention will receive the 3-month Music Composition Intervention, completing self-reporting weekly measures of mood and social media usage, as well as a pre- and a post-intervention evaluation in which cognitive, mental-health, mood, social media usage and neuroimaging measures will be obtained.

Group II: Photography Composition / Edition Active Control 1 Intervention

Teenage participants assigned to the 'Photography Composition / Edition' or Visual-Arts (VIS) intervention will receive the 3-month Photography Composition/Edition Intervention, completing self-reporting weekly measures of mood and social media usage, as well as a pre- and a post-intervention evaluation in which cognitive, mental-health, mood, social media usage and neuroimaging measures will be obtained.

Group III: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Teenage participants assigned to the 'Passive Control' (CON) arm will complete self-reporting weekly measures of mood and social media usage during 3 months, as well as a pre- and a post-intervention evaluation in which cognitive, mental-health, mood, social media usage and neuroimaging measures will be obtained. Once their participation in the study is complete, controls will be offered to complete the intervention of their choosing, according to the availability of teaching artists and locations to perform this.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

New York University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

249

Recruited

229,000+

American Composers Orchestra

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

90+

Published Research Related to This Trial

This systematic review analyzed 25 studies on digital health interventions (DHIs) for mental disorders in youth, identifying cognitive and affective mediators as key factors influencing intervention outcomes, with 100% of affective mediators showing significant effects.

Despite the promising findings, most studies lacked the ability to draw causal conclusions, highlighting the need for improved research designs to better understand how DHIs work and enhance their effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mechanisms of Change in Digital Health Interventions for Mental Disorders in Youth: Systematic Review. Domhardt, M., Engler, S., Nowak, H., et al.[2021]

In a study of 66 adolescent patients with anorexia, those receiving music and art therapy combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) showed significantly greater improvements in body weight, BMI, and emotional well-being compared to a control group.

The treatment group also experienced a lower dropout rate and higher overall treatment satisfaction, indicating that this combined therapy approach is not only effective but also more engaging for patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music and art therapy combined with cognitive behavioral therapy to treat adolescent anorexia patients. Wang, C., Xiao, R.[2023]

The study found that the social media-based intervention Horyzons effectively fostered social connections and a sense of belonging among young people with first-episode psychosis, enhancing their social functioning over the long term.

Despite the positive experiences reported, participants faced barriers such as social anxiety and internalized stigma that hindered their engagement with the platform, suggesting the need for customizable features in digital interventions to better support users.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Young People's Experience of a Long-Term Social Media-Based Intervention for First-Episode Psychosis: Qualitative Analysis. Valentine, L., McEnery, C., O'Sullivan, S., et al.[2020]

A systematic review of eight studies on visual art and music interventions for eating disorders found limited and inconclusive evidence regarding their effectiveness.

While these interventions may help reduce negative emotional states in patients, more research is needed to determine their clinical relevance and effectiveness in treating eating disorders.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Visual art- and music-based interventions as adjuvants in the treatment of eating disorders: a systematic review and a theoretical model. Pedra Cruz Bettin, B., Urquiza Nogueira, L., Bertasso de Araujo, PA., et al.[2023]

Digital interventions delivered through social media show promise in improving mental health outcomes for adolescents and young adults, with preliminary evidence from 15 studies published between 2017 and 2021.

The review emphasizes the need for further research to explore the effectiveness of these interventions, particularly in leveraging existing peer networks and scaling them to reach more young people in need of mental health support.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social media-based interventions for adolescent and young adult mental health: A scoping review. Kruzan, KP., Williams, KDA., Meyerhoff, J., et al.[2023]

A pilot study involving five young people in a CAMHS setting showed that a weekly music group over 2 months was enjoyable and helped improve mood, self-confidence, and social skills.

The music group also led to good attendance at clinic appointments, indicating it may enhance engagement in mental health services for young people.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot music group for young people attending a community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. McDonald, J., Codrea, A., Gavin, B.[2019]

A scoping review of 23 studies involving youth aged 4 to 25 with various mental health conditions found that music therapy is the most commonly researched intervention, primarily aimed at improving social skills.

While participants generally appreciate music interventions, the effectiveness is hard to determine due to varied research designs, highlighting the need for more standardized studies to better understand their therapeutic benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music interventions with children, adolescents and emerging adults in mental health settings: a scoping review. Romano, M., Archambault, K., Garel, P., et al.[2023]

The avatar-based intervention eSMART-MH was found to be necessary, acceptable, and safe for young adults, showing promise in reducing depressive symptoms over a 12-week period with 60 participants.

Compared to usual care, eSMART-MH demonstrated greater feasibility, suggesting that improving access through mobile devices could enhance its effectiveness as a digital therapeutic.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessing the Critical Parameters of eSMART-MH: A Promising Avatar-Based Digital Therapeutic Intervention to Reduce Depressive Symptoms. Pinto, MD., Greenblatt, AM., Hickman, RL., et al.[2018]

POD Adventures is a blended problem-solving game-based intervention designed for adolescents in India, developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and user-testing with 126 participants, including students and service providers.

The intervention aims to provide accessible mental health support through a gamified app, emphasizing relatability and interactivity, and will be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial to assess its effectiveness in low-resource school settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Design and Development of the "POD Adventures" Smartphone Game: A Blended Problem-Solving Intervention for Adolescent Mental Health in India. Gonsalves, PP., Hodgson, ES., Kumar, A., et al.[2023]

Approximately 22.2% of children and adolescents with mental disorders in the study met the DSM-5 criteria for internet gaming disorder, indicating a significant prevalence of screen media addiction among this population.

The study found that over two-thirds of participants exceeded the recommended screen time of 2 hours per day, with an average usage of 3.14 hours, highlighting concerns about excessive screen media use in children and adolescents with mental health issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Problematic screen media use in children and adolescents attending child and adolescent psychiatric services in a tertiary care center in North India. Raju, V., Sharma, A., Shah, R., et al.[2023]

Young people aged 18-24 perceive online arts and culture (OAC) as beneficial for mental health, particularly valuing human connection and the ability to engage regularly, which enhances their experience.

Participants reported that OAC can disrupt negative thought patterns and improve mood through mechanisms like reflection, creativity, and escapism, highlighting the potential of OAC to support mental well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Online arts and culture for mental health in young people: a qualitative interview study. Syed Sheriff, R., Bergin, L., Bonsaver, L., et al.[2023]

Adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) expressed a strong interest in smartphone-based mental health interventions, provided they are perceived as helpful, relevant, and user-friendly, highlighting the importance of tailoring these tools to their specific needs.

The study developed a framework emphasizing that effective digital mental health interventions should consider the individual user, their mental health condition, and technology-related factors, necessitating collaboration among adolescents, mental health professionals, and technology experts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"Smartphone Apps Are Cool, But Do They Help Me?": A Qualitative Interview Study of Adolescents' Perspectives on Using Smartphone Interventions to Manage Nonsuicidal Self-Injury. Čuš, A., Edbrooke-Childs, J., Ohmann, S., et al.[2021]

Citations

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4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190740925001343

Effectiveness of music-based therapy on adolescents and ... Most studies reported significant and positive effects of music-based interventions on participants' physical and mental health.

5. cureus.com cureus.com/articles/310004-digital-mental-health-interventions-for-adolescents-and-young-people-evaluating-efficacy-and-accessibility

Digital Mental Health Interventions for Adolescents and ... This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the efficacy of different DMHIs in managing various mental health conditions.

6. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/music-and-visual-arts-for-teen-mental-health-748b6

Music and Visual Arts for Teen Mental Health (SMART Trial) The eSMART-MH study assessed safety as one of the critical parameters of an avatar-based digital intervention for reducing depressive symptoms in young adults, ...

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Studying the effects of digital arts-based interventions on ... Studying the effects of digital arts-based interventions on teenagers' social media usage, brain connectivity, and mental health: study protocol ...