Effects of Music Therapy on Huntington's Disease

Huntington's Disease Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Effects of Music Therapy on Depression, Chorea and Other Symptoms of Huntington's Disease

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00178360
• Other study ID #: 10336
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• First received: September 12, 2005
• Last updated: August 19, 2011
• Start date: July 2004
• Est. completion date: June 2010

Study information

• Verified date: August 2011
• Source: University of Rochester
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Institutional Review Board
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is primarily to assess the ability of a music therapy program to improve holistically the psychological, somatic, and social symptoms of patients with Huntington 's disease (HD). We hope to demonstrate the benefits of applying music therapy interventions to the management methods of HD, thus paving the way for the development of an effective music therapy program for individuals with HD.

Description:

ABSTRACT

Background: Recent studies show that music therapy helps improve the symptomatic manifestations of Parkinson's Disease. Few studies have looked at music therapy as a treatment for the psychiatric, cognitive and motor symptoms of patients with Huntington's disease (HD).

Objective: To examine the feasibility and tolerability of a treatment program of music therapy for patients with Huntington's disease. Also, to determine if music therapy improves the mood and motor features of HD while improving quality of life.

Methods: Subjects with HD were recruited to participate in a six-week study that included one individual, half-hour music therapy session and one hour-long group session per week. The music therapy protocols were adapted from the Colorado State University's Neurological Music Therapy program and were targeted to HD symptoms including balance and posture, fine motor skills, memory and attention, vocalizations, and mood. In particular the protocols included Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS), Pattern Sensory Enhancement (PSE), and Therapeutic Instrumental Music Playing (TIMP). Primary outcome of tolerability was to be assessed by the subjects' adherence to the therapeutic protocol, attendance, and the results of an exit survey inquiring about their feelings toward the use of music therapy in HD. A secondary outcome of the study was the change in the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) score between baseline and study completion.

Results: Five subjects were recruited for study participation (one female and four males). Music therapy was found to be a tolerable and feasible treatment for patients with HD (100% adherence and 98% attendance). Exit surveys demonstrated strongly positive feelings towards the music therapy treatment program in four of the five subjects (one survey was completed with contradictory answers by the subject). While there was improvement in UHDRS scores for finger tapping, pronation/supination and the Luria, these changes did not achieve statistical significance with the small sample size in this study.

Conclusions: Music therapy was well tolerated among subjects with HD in this small study. Future studies are now being planned to look at the efficacy of this intervention in a larger population of HD subjects.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 11
• Est. completion date: June 2010
• Est. primary completion date: December 2008
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of HD

• Over the age of 18

• Patients must be ambulatory, use of a walker or human support is acceptable

• Patients must be able to communicate their thoughts and feelings

Exclusion Criteria:

• Anyone without the preceding characteristics

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment, Masking: Open Label

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Huntington Disease
• Huntington's Disease

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Music Therapy
During individual Music Therapy sessions, subjects will participate in a variety of active music-making opportunities, including: playing musical instruments, singing, improvising, learning relaxation techniques, song writing, and/or lyric analysis. The activities for each session will be determined by both subject and therapist, and will be selected based on preference, emotional state, and desired goals for the day. Group music therapy sessions will focus on improving socialization, depression, and group dynamics. In this setting, the Music Therapist will choose from the following interventions: Group singing Group drumming Music assisted relaxation Group song writing Lyric analysis Improvisation Music with art

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Rochester Medical Center	Rochester	New York

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Rochester

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (1)

Wigmore JG. Re: C.C. Fessler, F.A. Tulleners, D.G. Howitt, and J.R. Richards, Determination of mouth alcohol using the Dräger Evidential Portable Alcohol System, Science and Justice 48 (2008) 16-23. Sci Justice. 2008 Sep;48(3):160. doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2 — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	To examine the feasibility and tolerability of a treatment program of MT for subjects with HD.		End of Study	No
Secondary	To determine if MT improves the mood and motor features of HD while improving quality of life.		End of study	No

External Links

•   American Music Therapy Association Home Page
•   Huntington's Disease Society of America Home Page