Music-based Treatments and Pain: Underlying Mechanisms and the Beneficial Effects of Music-Based Treatments

Chronic Low-back Pain Clinical Trial

Official title:

Music-based Treatments and Pain: Underlying Mechanisms

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05578781
• Other study ID #: STUDY00014335
• Secondary ID: 1R21AT011577-01A
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 26, 2023
• Est. completion date: October 2024

Study information

• Verified date: June 2023
• Source: University of Washington
• Contact: Erica Wasmund
• Phone: 206-897-6322
• Email: ericaw8[@]uw.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to understand the mechanisms that underlie the beneficial effects of music-based treatments in individuals with moderate to severe chronic low back pain

Description:

A growing body of research indicates that music may be used effectively for improving a variety of symptoms, including pain. However, little is known about the mechanisms that underlie the beneficial effects of music-based treatments. The primary objective of this R21 exploratory study is to evaluate the feasibility of performing a full R01 study in a sample of individuals with moderate to severe chronic low back pain to address knowledge gaps regarding the mechanisms of music-based treatments. To address the primary aims of this study, the investigators will conduct a 3-arm pilot trial in which individuals with chronic low back pain will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) live music played by a board-certified music therapist (Music Therapy), (2) audio recorded music (Music Medicine), or (3) audio of a person reading written text (n = 20 subjects per condition). In addition, 20 individuals without chronic pain will be enrolled and assigned to the Music Medicine condition. An EEG assessment measuring brain oscillation spectral power will be conducted before and during a session of each experimental condition. Measures of pain intensity will be administered before and after the sessions. Low back pain was selected because it is among the most common, costly, and disabling chronic pain problems; including a non-pain sample will also allow us to determine if having chronic pain or not influences the effects of music on the primary mechanism variables. Effect sizes will be computed to evaluate (1) the effects of the treatments on frontal midline theta power and (2) the mediation effects of changes in frontal midline theta power on the pre- to post-session effects of the music conditions, relative to the control condition. The investigators will also investigate the differences between the three music conditions, compare the effects of Music Medicine on the mechanism variables as a function of having or not having chronic pain, and explore the extent to which the experimental conditions have lingering effects on pain intensity and secondary outcomes (depression, pain interference, and sleep quality) during the 24 hours after the experimental sessions. The investigators will also perform interviews and qualitative data analyses to identify additional unanticipated effects of the experimental conditions that would be worth examining more closely in a full R01 study. The findings from this study will be used to determine if a full R01 study to evaluate the mechanisms of music-based treatments is warranted, and to inform the design of such as study. This program of research will provide important foundational knowledge regarding the mechanisms of music-based interventions. Transferred to clinical care, this knowledge could help in patient-treatment matching which would enhance the overall effectiveness for music-based treatments and other non-pharmacological treatments that may operate via their effects on brain states, as measured by EEG.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 100
• Est. completion date: October 2024
• Est. primary completion date: April 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria for Chronic Low Back Pain sample:

• =18 years old
• Meets criteria for Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP)
• Moderate to severe pain intensity on average (i.e., average pain in the past week =4 on the 0-10 NRS)
• Able to read, speak, and understand English

Inclusion criterion for the non-pain sample:

• =18 years old
• Able to read, speak, and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cognitive impairment that could interfere with study participation defined as =1 error on the 6-Item
• Presence of a psychiatric condition (e.g. significant suicidal ideation, active psychotic symptoms that would interfere with study participation
• Having a significant hearing disability that interferes with the potential participant's ability to hear music
• Having a health condition associated,per both chart review and self-report, with central nervous system damage (e.g., epilepsy, traumatic head injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's).

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Back Pain
• Chronic Low-back Pain
• Low Back Pain

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Music Therapy
Music Therapy is a music session with a live therapist and has been shown to reduce pain and anxiety. If effective the music medicine in this RCT will be used help design a full R01 study
• Music Medicine
Music Medicine is an audio recorded music therapy session that will be played for the participant. This will be the same music session that will be played live in the music therapy session.
• Control group
Control group will listen to an audio recording of text being spoken by the board certified music therapist

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Washington	Seattle	Washington

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Washington	National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Frontal Midline Theta Power	Frontal midline theta power will be assessed using EEG assessment measuring brain oscillation spectral power for 5-min before and during each 20-min session.	During the session
Secondary	Duration of benefits	Estimated time of pain relief during the24 hours after the session, estimated using a 0-10 Numerical Rating scale.	Pre-Intervention, immediately after intervention, as well as 24 hours later
Secondary	Pain intensity	Will be assessed using 0-10 Numerical Rating Scales (NRS).	Pre-intervention and immediately after intervention