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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether music therapy can improve the quality of life for people hospitalized with COPD (a lung disease) or heart failure. Participants will either receive music therapy sessions or continue with their usual care. The researchers aim to determine if music therapy reduces stress and hospital readmissions while boosting confidence in managing health. Ideal candidates have been hospitalized with COPD or heart failure and will have internet access and a device for virtual sessions after discharge. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative care options that could enhance the health management experience.

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 prior data suggests that music therapy is safe for chronic disease patients?

Research shows that music therapy is generally safe for patients. Many studies have found that music therapy can reduce anxiety, pain, and other symptoms without causing harm. The National Institutes of Health reports that using music in treatment is linked to positive results and is well-received by patients.

Reviews of music therapy for long-term illnesses indicate that both actively making music and simply listening to it benefit physical and mental health. These studies did not report any major negative effects or side effects, suggesting that music therapy is a safe option for managing symptoms of chronic diseases.

Overall, research supports music therapy as a safe and helpful treatment for many people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about music therapy for chronic diseases because it offers a non-invasive, holistic approach that focuses on both physical and emotional well-being. Unlike standard treatments that often involve medication, music therapy leverages the power of sound to promote relaxation, enhance respiratory health through harmonica exercises for COPD, and manage heart failure with music-based breathing techniques. This therapy also addresses psychosocial stress by incorporating relaxation, imagery, and gratitude exercises, potentially offering a more comprehensive healing experience without the side effects of drugs.

What evidence suggests that music therapy could be effective for chronic disease?

Research has shown that music therapy, which participants in this trial may receive, can positively affect both physical and mental health. For individuals with long-term illnesses, it can improve movement, manage pain, and support recovery. Studies also find that music therapy enhances quality of life by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, it helps regulate body functions like blood pressure and heart rate. Overall, these findings suggest that music therapy could be a useful tool for improving well-being in people with chronic diseases. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Samuel Rodgers-Melnick, MPH, MT-BC

Principal Investigator

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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

Able to read and understand English

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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 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]

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]

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 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]

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]

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]

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This NIH fact sheet summarizes the science on the potential benefits of music-based interventions for symptoms such as anxiety and pain.

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Music and Medicine: Promoting Harmony for Health

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