Effect of Music Therapy in Mental Subhealth (EMTMS)

Conditions studied

Depression, Anxiety

About this study

Mental health is increasingly at the forefront of concerns, especially since the start of COVID-19 pandemic. However, not all individuals under mental subhealth need pharmaceutical treatment. Music Therapy (MT) can make peoples gradually relax via relaxing and soothing music, and regulate individual psychological emotions through the influence of music on individuals' cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and limbic system, further improve the mood of daily tension and anxiety. This study adopted randomized clinical trials design, with two groups of MT group and Waiting group both under mental subhealth. The MT group received music therapy and routine activities, while the Waiting group received music therapy after the therapy of MT group. Data collections were performed by trained, certified, and qualified personnel. The study aims to provide that MT is an effective intervention way to alleviate the mental subhealth state in the future.

Interventions

• Device: The mini apps named "SOUL GYM" on the Wechat — Music Therapy can make peoples gradually relax via relaxing and soothing music, and regulate individual psychological emotions through the influence of music on individuals' cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and limbic system, further improve the mood of daily tension and anxiety.

Primary outcomes

• Change from baseline in depressive symptoms assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; range: 0-27) at week 4. (Baseline and week 4.)
• Change from baseline in anxiety symptoms assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7, range: 0-21) at week 4. (Baseline and week 4.)
• Change from baseline in insomnia symptoms assessed by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI; range: 0-28) at week 4. (Baseline and week 4.)
• Change from baseline in perceived stress assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14; range: 0-56) at week 4. (Baseline and week 4.)

Eligibility information

Study locations

• Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210000 China