Music for Mental Health Issues During COVID-19

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By AZA Allsop, MD, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Yale University

Disqualifiers: Contraindications to fNIRS or EEG, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 1 day

48 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the idea that Music for Mental Health Issues During COVID-19 is an effective treatment?

The available research shows that Music for Mental Health Issues During COVID-19 is effective in reducing anxiety and improving emotional well-being. In one study, patients who participated in live music sessions reported a 92% improvement in their emotional state and a 89.5% reduction in stress and anxiety. Another study found that a single session of music therapy significantly reduced anxiety levels and improved oxygen saturation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared to those who received standard care. These findings suggest that music therapy can be a helpful alternative treatment for mental health issues during the pandemic. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What safety data exists for music therapy as a treatment for mental health issues during COVID-19?

The available research indicates that music therapy, including virtual and in-person formats, is generally safe and can reduce anxiety and improve oxygen saturation in COVID-19 patients. Studies have shown that music therapy can be a feasible and effective complementary intervention for mental health support during the pandemic. Participants have reported relaxation and a sense of connection, although in-person sessions are often preferred over virtual ones. Overall, music therapy has been adapted successfully to virtual formats, with benefits outweighing challenges in the pandemic context. ^{1 3 5 6 7}

Is music therapy a promising treatment for mental health issues during COVID-19?

Yes, music therapy is a promising treatment for mental health issues during COVID-19. It can reduce anxiety, improve emotional well-being, and provide a sense of connection and pleasure. Studies show that even a single session can significantly lower anxiety and improve oxygen levels in patients. Music therapy can also help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, making it a valuable tool for mental health support during the pandemic. ^{1 4 5 8 9}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Mental health vulnerability due to stress is increased in People of African Descent (PADs) in America due to disproportionate effects of racism, poverty, education, and criminal justice sentencing. Various meditation and mindfulness approaches have provided evidence of measured reductions in multiple negative dimensions of stress. However, the majority of these studies do not have an adequate representation of PADs or other marginalized groups and are not designed to be culturally relevant or community based. Music has been shown to alleviate multiple symptoms of stress and has been shown to be a preferred and effective support for meditation and mindfulness. However, its role in stress management in PADs engaged in meditation or mindfulness is seldom studied. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a virtual, community-based music mindfulness program on stress management in PAD community members with anxiety and depression during COVID19. 2b. Social Music Study: Investigators will assess the neural mechanisms of feelings of subjective connectedness during communal music listening and creating between dyads of subjects who are both familiar and unfamiliar with each other.

Research Team

AZA Allsop, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

Yale University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for People of African Descent (PADs) in America who are experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression, particularly heightened by the impacts of COVID-19. It aims to include those affected by racism, poverty, education disparities, and criminal justice issues.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 16 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

I am 15 years old or younger.

Contraindications to functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy or Electroencephalography

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a virtual, community-based music mindfulness program to assess stress management

1 day

1 visit (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in EEG activity and subjective connectedness after music listening

30 minutes

1 visit (virtual)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Social Music

Trial Overview The study tests a virtual music mindfulness program designed to be culturally relevant for PADs. It will explore how communal music listening and creation can help manage stress during meditation or mindfulness practices.

Participant Groups

Group I: Component 2b. Social Music Study Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Investigators will assess the neural mechanisms of feelings of subjective connectedness during communal music listening and creating between dyads of subjects who are both familiar and unfamiliar with each other

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Yale University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,963

Recruited

3,046,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Findings from Research

A randomized controlled trial with 40 hospitalized COVID-19 patients showed that a single session of music therapy significantly reduced anxiety levels compared to standard care, with anxiety scores dropping from 45.00 in the control group to 34.50 in the music therapy group.

Music therapy also improved oxygen saturation levels in patients, with the treatment group showing an average O2Sat of 97.50 compared to 96.00 in the control group, indicating its potential as a beneficial non-pharmacological intervention for COVID-19 patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of single session receptive music therapy on anxiety and vital parameters in hospitalized Covid-19 patients: a randomized controlled trial. Giordano, F., Losurdo, A., Quaranta, VN., et al.[2022]

Music Therapy actively engages patients in therapeutic activities, using music to improve mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, sleep disorders, and dementia.

Encouraging singing as part of Music Therapy not only aids in treating these conditions but also enhances bonding between mothers and children, promoting social cohesion and individual well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of Music Therapy in the treatment of Mental Illness and the enhancement of Societal Wellbeing. Wang, S., Agius, M.[2019]

Rapid tele-psychotherapy combined with Single-Session Music Therapy (SSMT) effectively reduced anxiety, panic, fear, depression, acute stress, insomnia, and delusions of death in a 33-year-old widow with asymptomatic COVID-19, highlighting its potential for immediate psychological support during the pandemic.

This approach offers a new model for mental health professionals to provide quick and effective therapy to COVID-19 patients, serving both as a screening tool for psychological issues and as an adjunct therapy for those in need.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"When the first session may be the last!": A case report of the implementation of "rapid tele-psychotherapy" with single-session music therapy in the COVID-19 outbreak. Situmorang, DDB.[2022]

A pilot project involving 87 live music sessions delivered via FaceTime to patients in a neurosciences unit during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that personalized music interventions significantly improved patients' emotional states, with 92% reporting a positive impact.

The program was highly recommended by participants (98% likelihood to recommend), indicating that telemusic interventions can effectively reduce feelings of anxiety and isolation in hospitalized patients when in-person interactions are not feasible.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neurology Telemusic Program at the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Turning Hospital Time Into Aesthetic Time During Crisis. Bonakdarpour, B., McFadden, A., Zlotkowski, S., et al.[2021]

Music therapists successfully adapted to remote therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily using synchronous video calls, although the quality of the studies reviewed was generally low.

Despite challenges, most therapists reported that the benefits of online music therapy outweighed the difficulties, indicating that this approach can be effective as a temporary solution during the pandemic.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adaptation of Music Therapists' Practice to the Outset of the COVID-19 Pandemic-Going Virtual: A Scoping Review. Kantorová, L., Kantor, J., Hořejší, B., et al.[2021]

Participants in a mindfulness-based music therapy intervention reported feeling relaxed and connected, with in-person sessions fostering a stronger connection to music and family compared to virtual sessions.

While virtual delivery of the intervention was more feasible, in-person sessions were preferred, highlighting the importance of format in enhancing the therapeutic experience for young adults undergoing cancer treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring Young Adults' Perspectives of Participation in a Mindfulness-Based Music Therapy Intervention Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Phillips, CS., Bockhoff, J., Berry, DL., et al.[2023]

A project aimed at enhancing virtual music therapy (VMT) skills among Czech music therapists led to 18 out of 26 practitioners adopting VMT after targeted educational and technical support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The implementation strategies not only improved compliance with best practice recommendations but also identified key barriers such as lack of knowledge and technical skills, which were crucial for the successful adaptation to VMT.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementation of virtual music therapy in the practice of Czech music therapists: a best practice implementation project. Kantor, J., Neuwirthová, A., Hořejší, B., et al.[2023]

The O-ACE POP study is a UK-based randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate an online cultural experience aimed at reducing anxiety and depression in young people aged 16-24 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This innovative intervention compares the effects of engaging narratives against a typical museum website, focusing on mental health outcomes such as symptoms of depression and anxiety, and aims to identify mechanisms of action for improved mental well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A cultural experience to support mental health in people aged 16-24 during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to a typical museum website: study protocol of an online randomised controlled trial. Syed Sheriff, RJ., Vuorre, M., Riga, E., et al.[2021]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people adapted to social isolation by turning to music for connection, which highlights the social functions of music in human interaction.

The article presents a model linking musical adaptations to brain mechanisms involving oxytocin and social cognition, suggesting that music production engages brain networks related to empathy and social affiliation, enhancing human connection during challenging times.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The social neuroscience of music: Understanding the social brain through human song. Greenberg, DM., Decety, J., Gordon, I.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of single session receptive music therapy on anxiety and vital parameters in hospitalized Covid-19 patients: a randomized controlled trial. [2022]

2. Croatia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of Music Therapy in the treatment of Mental Illness and the enhancement of Societal Wellbeing. [2019]

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

"When the first session may be the last!": A case report of the implementation of "rapid tele-psychotherapy" with single-session music therapy in the COVID-19 outbreak. [2022]

4. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neurology Telemusic Program at the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Turning Hospital Time Into Aesthetic Time During Crisis. [2021]

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

Adaptation of Music Therapists' Practice to the Outset of the COVID-19 Pandemic-Going Virtual: A Scoping Review. [2021]

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

Exploring Young Adults' Perspectives of Participation in a Mindfulness-Based Music Therapy Intervention Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. [2023]

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

Implementation of virtual music therapy in the practice of Czech music therapists: a best practice implementation project. [2023]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A cultural experience to support mental health in people aged 16-24 during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to a typical museum website: study protocol of an online randomised controlled trial. [2021]

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

The social neuroscience of music: Understanding the social brain through human song. [2022]