Music Therapy for Chronic Disease

Overseen By Samuel Rodgers-Melnick, MPH, MT-BC

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Samuel Rodgers-Melnick

Disqualifiers: Covid-19, Psychosis, Cancer treatment, others

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 17

Duration: 4 weeks

60 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Conduct a randomized trial (n = 60: with n = 30 receiving music therapy and n = 30 receiving usual care) to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the MAJOR CHORD music therapy intervention compared to usual care on (a) health-related quality of life (e.g., physical function, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and pain interference), (b) perceived stress, (c) self-efficacy, and (d) 30-day readmission rates

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 seems likely that you can continue your usual medications, but it's best to confirm with the trial coordinators.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Music Therapy for Chronic Disease?

Research shows that music therapy can help reduce anxiety and pain in seriously ill patients and improve their overall hospital experience. It has also been found to positively impact mood, well-being, and even hope for recovery in mental health patients. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is music therapy safe for humans?

Music therapy is generally considered safe and has been used in various settings, including intensive care and cancer treatment, without known side effects. It is often used as a complementary therapy to help manage pain, anxiety, and discomfort. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

How does music therapy differ from other treatments for chronic disease?

Music therapy is unique because it uses music as a therapeutic tool to improve mood, reduce stress, and enhance relaxation, which can support emotional and physical well-being. Unlike traditional medical treatments, it involves interactive techniques like playing instruments and singing, as well as listening to music, making it a holistic approach that can be integrated with other therapies to improve quality of life. ^{1 7 10 11 12}

Research Team

Samuel Rodgers-Melnick, MPH, MT-BC

Principal Investigator

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for patients with chronic illnesses like heart failure or COPD. Participants should be adults who are currently hospitalized and have a history of these conditions. They must be able to give consent and participate in music therapy sessions.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 30 and 89 years old.

Agreed to be contacted for the qualitative interview during consenting process for the RCT

Access to Wi-Fi, active email address, laptop, tablet, smartphone, and/or PC with videoconferencing capabilities at home or the facility in which they will be discharged

Exclusion Criteria

I am currently diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19.

Included on the Music Therapy Referral patient list in the EHR

Significant hearing and/or visual impairment as documented in EHR

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive two in-person music therapy sessions before discharge and two virtual sessions post-discharge, focusing on music-assisted relaxation, imagery, and disease-specific content.

4 weeks

2 in-person visits, 2 virtual visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with follow-up measures completed using REDCap surveys at 15 and 30 days post-discharge.

4 weeks

Surveys at 15 and 30 days post-discharge

Extension

Participants in the control arm are offered a single virtual music therapy session after 30 days post-discharge.

1 session

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Music Therapy

Trial Overview The MAJOR CHORD study tests if music therapy can improve life quality, reduce stress, boost confidence in managing health (self-efficacy), and lower the chance of being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days compared to usual care.

Participant Groups

Group I: Music Therapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will complete a series of questionnaires after enrolling, 15 days post hospital discharge, and 30 days post hospital discharge. Board-certified music therapists (i.e., MT-BC credential) will provide two music therapy sessions, not to occur on the same day, that include education and disease-specific content (e.g., harmonica exercises for respiratory health \[COPD\] or music-based breathing exercises \[HF\]) prior to patients' discharge and two virtual music therapy sessions that address music-assisted relaxation and imagery, additional techniques for managing psychosocial stressors, and gratitude exercises post-discharge.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

No additional intervention will be conducted for this arm during their study participation. Participants will complete a series of questionnaires after enrolling, 15 days post hospital discharge, and 30 days post hospital discharge. Participants randomized to the control arm will be offered a single virtual music therapy session after 30 days post-discharge. No data will be collected during this music therapy session.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Samuel Rodgers-Melnick

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

60+

Kulas Foundation

Collaborator

Trials

9

Recruited

320+

Findings from Research

A review of 12 clinical studies involving 922 cancer patients indicates that music therapy can lead to short-term improvements in mood, relaxation, and reductions in anxiety and pain, particularly in pediatric oncology settings.

Case vignettes illustrate that music therapy can help patients express emotions and shift focus from their illness to a healthier mindset, suggesting its potential as a supportive treatment in cancer care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Use of Music Therapy During the Treatment of Cancer Patients: A Collection of Evidence. Boyde, C., Linden, U., Boehm, K., et al.[2020]

Music therapy can significantly enhance the hospital experience for patients, suggesting it may have beneficial effects on their overall well-being during treatment.

The review synthesizes current research, indicating that incorporating music therapy into hospital care could lead to improved patient satisfaction and emotional support.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of music therapy on patients' perception and manifestation of pain, anxiety, and patient satisfaction. Richards, T., Johnson, J., Sparks, A., et al.[2015]

A study involving 150 seriously ill patients across various inpatient units demonstrated that music therapy significantly reduced anxiety levels after a single bedside session.

The intervention was found to be feasible and well-received, with patients showing high interest and satisfaction, indicating that music therapy can be effectively integrated into general inpatient care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Soothing the heart with music: A feasibility study of a bedside music therapy intervention for critically ill patients in an urban hospital setting. Fallek, R., Corey, K., Qamar, A., et al.[2020]

A meta-analysis of 183 studies across 11 medical specialties found that music therapy interventions have significantly greater positive effects on outcomes like pain, well-being, mood, and nausea/vomiting compared to music medicine interventions.

The analysis particularly highlighted benefits for patients with cancer, those who are terminally ill, and patients with HIV, indicating that music therapy can be an effective complementary treatment in these populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of music and music therapy on medical patients: a meta-analysis of the research and implications for the future. Dileo, C.[2022]

A study involving 169 acute care mental health patients found that participating in a single session of group-based educational music therapy may enhance feelings of hope for recovery, although the differences were not statistically significant.

Both lyric analysis and songwriting interventions showed slightly higher hope scores compared to a control group, suggesting that music therapy could be beneficial in promoting recovery, even if the specific type of intervention did not lead to different outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Educational Music Therapy on State Hope for Recovery in Acute Care Mental Health Inpatients: A Cluster-Randomized Effectiveness Study. Silverman, MJ.[2020]

Music therapy serves as a complementary treatment for critically ill patients in intensive care, enhancing the effects of conventional medical treatments.

The intervention has both physiological and psychological benefits, suggesting it can improve overall patient well-being during critical illness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy in ICU. Coughlan, A.[2015]

Music therapy significantly contributed to the rehabilitation of a severely injured service member by improving various functional areas such as range of motion, strength, articulation, and social integration, as reported through clinical notes and patient feedback.

The integration of music therapy with traditional rehabilitation methods was highly valued by the patient and treatment team, enhancing motivation and participation, and helping to prevent social isolation by promoting community engagement through music.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy applied to complex blast injury in interdisciplinary care: a case report. Vaudreuil, R., Avila, L., Bradt, J., et al.[2020]

Music therapy has been shown to be an effective complementary treatment for various conditions, including pulmonary disorders and neurological diseases like dementia and Parkinson's, with no known side effects.

The use of music therapy is beneficial not only for emotional support at the end of life but also leads to measurable physiological and hormonal changes, highlighting its broad therapeutic potential.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music and elderly. Leners, JC.[2014]

In a study involving 259 pediatric patients in the intensive care unit, live music therapy significantly reduced heart rates, breathing rates, and levels of discomfort during the sessions.

The findings suggest that music therapy could be an effective nonpharmacological intervention to help manage pain and anxiety in critically ill children, despite its limited current use in PICUs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of a live music therapy intervention on critically ill paediatric patients in the intensive care unit: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study. Mata Ferro, M., Falcó Pegueroles, A., Fernández Lorenzo, R., et al.[2023]

Music therapy techniques were found to be beneficial in enhancing the dental experience for 81 patients aged 18 to 62, making unpleasant dental procedures more tolerable.

Implementing music therapy in dental practices can improve patient comfort and satisfaction without requiring significant financial or organizational changes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Music therapy in different dental specialties]. Mehr, K., Wyganowska-Swiatkowska, M., Kowalkowska, I., et al.[2015]

Music therapy is an effective complementary treatment for cancer patients, helping to improve mood, reduce stress, pain, and anxiety, and enhance relaxation during their treatment process.

Integrating music therapy into supportive cancer care can significantly promote overall wellness and improve both physical and emotional well-being, contributing to a better quality of life for patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy in supportive cancer care. Stanczyk, MM.[2022]

Music therapy has evolved significantly over the past 25 years and plays an important role in palliative care, benefiting patients with life-threatening illnesses as well as their families and caregivers.

The article discusses various music therapy techniques, such as improvisation and songwriting, and emphasizes its effectiveness as a holistic practice in different palliative care settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy in palliative care: current perspectives. O'Kelly, J.[2004]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Use of Music Therapy During the Treatment of Cancer Patients: A Collection of Evidence. [2020]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of music therapy on patients' perception and manifestation of pain, anxiety, and patient satisfaction. [2015]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Soothing the heart with music: A feasibility study of a bedside music therapy intervention for critically ill patients in an urban hospital setting. [2020]

4. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of music and music therapy on medical patients: a meta-analysis of the research and implications for the future. [2022]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Educational Music Therapy on State Hope for Recovery in Acute Care Mental Health Inpatients: A Cluster-Randomized Effectiveness Study. [2020]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy in ICU. [2015]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy applied to complex blast injury in interdisciplinary care: a case report. [2020]

8. Luxembourg pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music and elderly. [2014]

9. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of a live music therapy intervention on critically ill paediatric patients in the intensive care unit: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study. [2023]

10. Poland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Music therapy in different dental specialties]. [2015]

11. Poland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy in supportive cancer care. [2022]

12. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy in palliative care: current perspectives. [2004]