Music for Chronic Pain

(MusKiP Trial)

Overseen By Carlos Gevers-Montoro, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: McGill University

Must be taking: Ketamine

Disqualifiers: Cancer, Hearing impairment, Intellectual disability, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

Duration: 5 weeks

25 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Intravenous (IV) ketamine is a treatment option for patients with chronic pain that does not respond to standard therapies, primarily working by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain. Beyond pain relief, ketamine can produce dissociative sensations, classifying it as an atypical psychedelic or mind-altering drug, and may enable patients to reprocess their pain similarly to experiences with traditional psychedelics. At the Montreal General Hospital's pain clinic, the investigators have observed patients frequently listening to music during ketamine infusions, and recent research indicates that music-especially when self-selected by patients-might provide additional pain-relieving benefits by influencing central mechanisms related to pain perception and interpretation. This intersection of music and pain relief is garnering substantial scientific interest as recent advances provide more insight into the neuroscience of music and its effects on brain regions involved in emotion, sensation, memory, and pain. This study aims to investigate the effects of music on chronic pain patients undergoing IV ketamine infusions at the Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit (AEPMU), specifically to determine whether the choice of music affects the intensity and duration of ketamine-induced pain relief. During the infusion (lasting 1 hour), patients will listen to a playlist delivered through specialized headphones, which will either consist of their own selected music (preferred music), music chosen by a music therapist, or no music at all, in a randomized order. Patients will track their pain levels throughout the infusion period and in the intervals between treatments (5 weeks) using standardized pain assessment tools. Additionally, the investigators will assess the subjective experiences of ketamine through interviews and qualitative analysis, while documenting and summarizing any adverse effects. The investigators hypothesize that listening to preferred music will enhance both the intensity and duration of pain relief from IV ketamine. To test this, the investigators will recruit patients already receiving repeated IV ketamine infusions for pain management at the AEPMU clinic. The first infusion will take place under usual conditions to establish a baseline. The infusions will occur in a dedicated room equipped with audio technology to ensure an immersive music experience.

Research Team

Mark A Ware, MD

Principal Investigator

McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Mathieu Roy, PhD

Principal Investigator

McGill University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for chronic pain patients who are already receiving IV ketamine treatments at the Montreal General Hospital's pain clinic. Participants should be open to listening to music or silence during their infusions and willing to track their pain levels.

Inclusion Criteria

I can safely receive ketamine injections.

Be able to use an electronic device to complete questionnaires and diaries

Abstention from consuming grapefruit juice on the day of the ketamine infusions

Exclusion Criteria

My condition shows significant symptoms or effects.

Significant hearing impairment not improved with hearing aids and/or sound amplification or unwillingness to listen to music during treatment

Known intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Infusion

Participants receive a baseline ketamine infusion under usual conditions to establish a baseline

1 hour

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants undergo three ketamine infusion sessions with different music conditions: self-selected music, therapist-selected music, and silence

5 weeks

4 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with pain intensity ratings collected over a 5-week period

5 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Music

Trial Overview The study tests if different types of music (patient-preferred, therapist-selected, or no music) affect the effectiveness of IV ketamine in managing chronic pain. Patients' experiences with these conditions will be compared using standardized tools and interviews.

Participant Groups

Group I: Therapist-Silence-Preferred Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in this arm will be exposed to 1) Therapist-selected music, 2) Silence, and 3) Preferred music, in this order

Group II: Therapist-Preferred-Silence Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in this arm will be exposed to 1) Therapist-selected music, 2) Preferred music, 3) Silence, in this order

Group III: Silence-Therapist-Preferred Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in this arm will be exposed to 1) Silence, 2) Therapist-selected music, and 3) Preferred music, in this order

Group IV: Silence-Preferred-Therapist Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in this arm will be exposed to 1) Silence, 2) Preferred music, and 3) Therapist-selected music, in this order

Group V: Preferred-Therapist-Silence Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in this arm will be exposed to 1) Preferred music, 2) Therapist-selected music and 3) Silence in this order

Group VI: Preferred-Silence-Therapist Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in this arm will be exposed to 1) Preferred music, 2) Silence, and 3) Therapist-selected music, in this order

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

McGill University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

421

Recruited

1,017,000+

McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Collaborator

Trials

476

Recruited

170,000+