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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether a music-based mindfulness program can help manage stress in People of African Descent (PADs) in the U.S. during COVID-19. The focus is on those dealing with anxiety and depression, using music to enhance feelings of connection and reduce stress. Participants will engage in virtual, community-based music activities, both listening to and creating music with others. This program suits PADs who experience anxiety or depression and find music beneficial for stress relief. As an unphased trial, the study offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative stress management techniques through music.

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 prior data suggests that this music mindfulness program is safe for stress management?

Research has shown that music therapy can help reduce mental health issues during COVID-19. Studies have found that it lowers anxiety and boosts emotional well-being. Music therapy is safe and usually easy for people to handle. For example, one study on mindfulness-based music therapy found it helped reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Another study on a virtual music therapy program found it improved mental health in college students. These findings suggest that music therapy offers a safe way to manage stress. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Most treatments for mental health issues, like medication and therapy, focus on chemical balances in the brain or talking through problems. But Social Music is different. It explores how communal music experiences can enhance feelings of connection between people, whether they know each other or not. This focus on the neural mechanisms of connectedness offers a fresh perspective on mental health, especially during times of isolation like COVID-19. Researchers are excited because this approach might offer a non-invasive, accessible way to improve mental well-being through the power of music and social interaction.

What evidence suggests that this Social Music program is effective for stress management in PADs with anxiety and depression during COVID-19?

Research shows that music therapy can greatly improve mental health, especially during stressful times like the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, studies have found that online music therapy can reduce anxiety and depression, improving mental well-being. Another study discovered that combining music therapy with mindfulness techniques lowered depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, while also enhancing sleep and resilience. These findings suggest that music can be a powerful tool for managing stress and enhancing emotional well-being. In this trial, participants will engage in the Social Music study, which explores the effects of communal music listening and creating on feelings of connectedness. Music therapy proves particularly effective when paired with mindfulness practices, making it a promising option for stress relief in various communities. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

AZA Allsop, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

Yale University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Citations

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Exploring the Impact of Positive Psychology-Based Virtual ... This study explored the effectiveness of a virtual music therapy program, based on positive psychotherapy principles, in college students during the COVID-19 ...

2. bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-024-01845-z

the moderating role of health awareness, and strategic health ... This research determines that moderating role of health awareness and strategic health management between music therapy and sustainable psychological well- ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8062927/

The Efficacy of Music for Emotional Wellbeing During ... This study aimed to analyze the impact of the two types of variables on the perceived efficacy of musical behaviors to fulfill adults' emotional wellbeing- ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1649395/pdf

Mindfulness-based music therapy for mental health in ... Conclusion: MBMT is effective in decreasing depression, anxiety, and obsessive- compulsive symptoms and improving sleep quality and resilience ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/382554311_Exploring_the_Impact_of_Positive_Psychology-Based_Virtual_Music_Therapy_on_Mental_Health_in_Stressed_College_Students_during_COVID-19_A_Pilot_Investigation

Exploring the Impact of Positive Psychology-Based Virtual ... The findings suggest that positive psychology-based virtual music therapy can significantly enhance the mental health of highly stressed college ...

6. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/397034185_Mindfulness-based_music_therapy_for_mental_health_in_senior_college_students_a_randomized_controlled_trial

Mindfulness-based music therapy for mental health in ... Conclusion MBMT is effective in decreasing depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and improving sleep quality and resilience ...

7. medrxiv.org medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.23.24305623v1.full-text

A Virtual Music Mindfulness Tool for Individuals of African ... Community-based forms of care, such as music and mindfulness, are affordable and accessible options that can potentially address present mental ...

8. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-mental-health-issue-7-2024-78def

Music 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 ...

9. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06505226?aggFilters=funderType:nih,status:not%20rec&cond=COVID-19&term=mental,%20depression,%20anxiety&rank=1

Study Details | NCT06505226 | Music Mindfulness Study 2a. 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 ...