70 Participants Needed

Auditory Stimulation for Schizophrenia

LW
DM
Overseen ByDara Manoach, PhD
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The investigators will test the hypothesis that auditory stimulation (playing quiet sounds during sleep) can normalize brain activity during sleep and improve memory in patients with schizophrenia. The investigators will do this by measuring sleep and memory performance under two conditions separated by one week: receiving auditory stimulation during sleep and not receiving auditory stimulation during sleep. The investigators will study healthy subjects and outpatients with schizophrenia.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if schizophrenia patients need to stop their current medications. However, healthy controls cannot be on psychotropic medications.

Is auditory stimulation therapy safe for humans?

Research on music therapy, a form of auditory stimulation, shows it is generally safe for people with schizophrenia and can help manage symptoms like anxiety and depression. No significant safety concerns have been reported in the studies reviewed.12345

How is auditory stimulation treatment different from other treatments for schizophrenia?

Auditory stimulation treatment for schizophrenia is unique because it uses sound, such as music or radio, to reduce auditory hallucinations by increasing external auditory input, which is different from other treatments like medication or brain stimulation techniques.13678

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Auditory Stimulation for Schizophrenia?

Research shows that music therapy, which is similar to auditory stimulation, can help reduce psychotic symptoms in people with schizophrenia. Studies found that group music activities and listening to music can decrease symptoms like anxiety and improve emotional expression.1391011

Who Is on the Research Team?

DM

Dara Manoach, PhD

Principal Investigator

Massachusetts General Hospital

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking men and women aged 18-50 who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Participants must be outpatients, meaning they aren't currently in the hospital, and able to give informed consent to participate.

Inclusion Criteria

You can speak and understand English well.
I am an outpatient being treated for schizophrenia.
I am either male or female.
See 1 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo two conditions: receiving auditory stimulation during sleep and not receiving auditory stimulation, separated by one week

2 weeks
2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

2-4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Auditory Stimulation
  • Placebo
Trial Overview The study is examining if playing quiet sounds during sleep (auditory stimulation) can help normalize brain activity and improve memory in people with schizophrenia compared to a placebo (no sound).
How Is the Trial Designed?
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: SchizophreniaExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Adult outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Group II: Healthy ControlsExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Adult participants screened to exclude a personal history of mental illness, family history of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, and psychoactive medication use.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Massachusetts General Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials
3,066
Recruited
13,430,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 67 patients with schizophrenia, group music activity as an adjunctive therapy significantly reduced psychotic symptoms, as measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).
The intervention consisted of 50-minute group music sessions held five times a week for 2 weeks, demonstrating that incorporating music therapy can enhance standard care for patients in acute psychiatric settings.
Effect of group music activity as an adjunctive therapy on psychotic symptoms in patients with acute schizophrenia.Peng, SM., Koo, M., Kuo, JC.[2010]
Assisted music therapy combined with drug therapy significantly improved symptoms in chronic schizophrenia patients compared to drug therapy alone, as shown by lower scores on the SANS and BPRS scales in the experimental group.
The study analyzed 11 articles with a total of 603 patients, indicating that while short-term benefits of music therapy are evident, further research is needed to assess its long-term effects.
[Meta-analysis of assisted music therapy for chronic schizophrenia].You, ZY., Wang, JZ.[2006]
Music therapy is well-accepted by schizophrenic patients, showing no negative effects even when introduced during the post-acute phase of treatment, based on a study of 30 patients.
The therapy provides positive benefits such as relaxation, reduced anxiety, and improved emotional expression, although the duration of these effects is limited.
[Music therapy evaluated by schizophrenic patients].Reker, T.[2006]

Citations

Effect of group music activity as an adjunctive therapy on psychotic symptoms in patients with acute schizophrenia. [2010]
[Meta-analysis of assisted music therapy for chronic schizophrenia]. [2006]
[Effects of listening to music on auditory hallucination and psychiatric symptoms in people with schizophrenia]. [2015]
[Music therapy evaluated by schizophrenic patients]. [2006]
Amelioration of psychiatric symptoms through exposure to music individually adapted to brain rhythm disorders - a randomised clinical trial on the basis of fundamental research. [2018]
Influence of Dosage and Type of Music Therapy in Symptom Management and Rehabilitation for Individuals with Schizophrenia. [2019]
Music Therapy as Treatment of Negative Symptoms for Adult Patients Diagnosed with Schizophrenia-Study Protocol for a Randomized, Controlled and Blinded Study. [2023]
Music therapy: harmony for change. [2022]
Auditory hallucinations treated by radio headphones. [2004]
Use of transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of auditory hallucinations of schizophrenia - a systematic review. [2020]
Effect of music listening on P300 event-related potential in patients with schizophrenia: A pilot study. [2022]
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