Music Therapy for Chronic Pain

(SCIMITAR Trial)

Overseen By Marianne Spevak, BSHS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine

Disqualifiers: Recent hospitalization, Housing insecurity, Suicidal ideation, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 9

180 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether music therapy can help Veterans manage chronic musculoskeletal pain, which affects areas like the lower back, neck, or joints and lasts more than 3 months. Participants will begin with music listening sessions and, if needed, progress to more detailed sessions using music and imagery for self-care and pain relief. The study aims to determine if these approaches offer real benefits compared to a control group receiving no immediate intervention. Veterans with moderate to severe pain and access to a device like a smartphone or computer might be suitable for this trial. As an unphased trial, it provides Veterans the chance to explore innovative pain management techniques that could enhance their quality of life.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this music therapy intervention is safe for Veterans with chronic pain?

Research has shown that music therapy, which includes listening to and imagining music, is generally safe for people. In past studies, participants found these methods acceptable and easy to handle, with no reports of serious side effects.

The SCIMITAR trial builds on an earlier study called FAMILIA. This previous research demonstrated that music therapy could be delivered through telehealth to people with chronic pain, and participants did not report any major problems with the treatment.

Other studies also support the safety of music therapy. For example, research with adult burn patients in Colombia found that music therapy helped reduce pain without causing harm. This suggests that music therapy may be a safe way to manage pain.

Overall, evidence indicates that music therapy is a safe treatment for chronic pain, with no significant risks reported in past studies. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about music therapy for chronic pain because it offers a non-pharmacological approach that taps into the healing power of music. Unlike standard treatments, which often rely on medications like analgesics or physical therapy, this therapy uses personalized music listening and guided imagery to help patients manage their pain. By focusing on self-regulation and inner resource development, music therapy could provide a more holistic form of relief without the side effects associated with traditional drugs. This innovative approach could also empower patients to take an active role in their own pain management, potentially improving their overall quality of life.

What evidence suggests that this music therapy intervention is effective for chronic pain?

Research shows that music therapy can help reduce pain. In this trial, participants in the stepped-care arm will first engage in Music Listening (ML), where a music therapist will help create a personalized playlist for a 4-week treatment period. If participants move to the next step, they will receive Music Imagery (MI) sessions. Previous studies have shown that using music imagery and listening to music eased pain better than standard treatments. Another study found that just one session of relaxing with music led to a short-term decrease in pain, especially for cancer patients. A large study also found that some music therapy methods might be more helpful for managing pain. These findings suggest that music therapy, including listening and imagery, could effectively manage chronic pain. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The SCIMITAR trial is for Veterans experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain in the back, neck, or limbs for over 3 months with moderate to severe pain levels. Participants must have access to and be able to use technology like a computer or smartphone but cannot join if they've been hospitalized recently, are facing housing issues, have suicidal thoughts with intent/plan, hearing or cognitive impairments that affect music listening or imagery thinking, or are currently receiving music therapy.

Inclusion Criteria

Access to computer, tablet, or smartphone

Ability to pass a technology assessment

I have had musculoskeletal pain in my back, neck, or limbs for 3 months or more.

Exclusion Criteria

Housing insecurity

Suicidal ideation with current intent/plan

I have not been hospitalized for medical or psychiatric reasons in the past month.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment - Step 1: Music Listening (ML)

Participants engage in music listening for a minimum of 15 minutes per day at least 4 days per week for 4 weeks

4 weeks

1 visit (virtual) to identify musical tastes and preferences

Treatment - Step 2: Music Imagery (MI)

Participants receive 8 weekly music imagery sessions over 8-10 weeks, focusing on self-regulation and self-care

8-10 weeks

8 visits (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Stepped-care

Trial Overview This trial tests a stepped-care approach using telehealth-delivered music therapy interventions. It builds on previous studies showing feasibility of such treatments for chronic pain relief in Veterans. The study involves sequential Music Listening (ML) and Music Imagery (MI) sessions designed to alleviate pain without face-to-face contact.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Stepped-care Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Step 1, Music Listening (ML): a music therapist will meet with the Veteran once to identify: musical tastes, preferences and activities. From this meeting a playlist will be compiled for the Veteran to listen to during the 4-week treatment period (step 1). Participants will be asked to listen to music for a minimum of 15 minutes per day at least 4 days per week. Step 2, Music Imagery (MI): Participants who move to step 2 will receive 8 weekly MI sessions over 8-10 weeks. The 8-session protocol has two stages. Stage 1 (sessions 1-4) is focused on learning to use music and imagery for self-regulation. Stage 2 (sessions 5-8) focuses on identifying and deepening inner resources and learning how to utilize them for self-care. Imagery is used during both stages, but becomes a central focus during Stage 2.

Group II: Waitlist control Active Control 1 Intervention

Wait-list Control: Following the 6-month outcome assessment, participants in the wait-list control arm will be offered abbreviated treatment of 3 sessions with a music therapist (one session to introduce ML with the option to receive 2 additional MI sessions). Participants will also be offered a referral to music therapy services. Participants in the wait-list control arm (and stepped-care group) may receive other pain treatments such as analgesics and non-pharmacological options (e.g., physical therapy) for their chronic MSK pain. The wait-list control arm will provide an untreated comparison to stepped-care and music therapy to assess outcomes during the same trial period, while still offering participants music therapy at study end if desired.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

103

Recruited

94,300+

Indiana Institute for Medical Research

Collaborator

Trials

4

Recruited

730+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07217821?rank=1

Stepped-Care Intervention of Music and Imagery to Assess ... SCIMITAR builds on our pilot study, the Feasibility and Acceptability of Music Imagery and Listening Interventions for Analgesia (FAMILIA), ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9539652/

Feasibility and Acceptability of Music Imagery and ... We hypothesize that music imagery and music listening will be more effective than usual care on pain and related outcomes. Conclusions.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885392425006608

A Live-Music Therapy Protocol for Pain Management in ... A single session of music-induced relaxation led to a short-term reduction of pain in patients with advanced cancer while improving their symptoms.

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.714209/full

The Effect of Music Therapy on Perceived Pain, Mental ... This study protocol aims at filling some of the current gaps in knowledge by measuring the effects of a live Music Assisted Relaxation (MAR) protocol—provided ...

5. news.uhhospitals.org news.uhhospitals.org/news-releases/articles/2025/09/large-study-finds-certain-music-therapy-interventions-may-be-more-beneficial-for-pain

Large Study Finds Certain Music Therapy Interventions May ... If this pain is not well-managed, patients may experience significant psychological distress and decreased functioning following hospital ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422025000800

Reporting guidelines for music-based interventions checklist Detailed intervention reporting is essential to interpretation, replication, and eventual translation of music-based interventions (MBIs) into practice.

7. jpsmjournal.com jpsmjournal.com/article/S0885-3924(25)00660-8/fulltext

A Live-Music Therapy Protocol for Pain Management in ... The results suggest that the intervention led to a short-term reduction of pain and improved patient symptoms, highlighting its potential as a ...