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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04785963

Effect of Music and Other Audio Recordings for Chronic Pain in Aging Adults

The long-range goal is to reduce suffering and establish alternative options for older adults experiencing pain. This is a randomized controlled study examining the effect of music on pain management in older adults.

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Key information

Conditions

Low Back Pain Aging Back Pain Chronic Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Sleep

Age range

50 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Baylor University

Waco, Texas, 76798, United States

About this study

Study Objectives:

  • Evaluate the efficacy of the music with suggestion intervention for chronic lower back pain in aging adults, with the indication that music with suggestion will significantly decrease subjective measures of pain compared to controls of music without suggestion or an informational recording about chronic pain.
  • Evaluate the efficacy of the music with suggestion intervention for sleep in aging adults, with the indication that music with suggestion will significantly improve subjective measures of sleep compared to controls of music without suggestion or an informational recording about chronic pain.
  • Evaluate the efficacy of the music with suggestion intervention for mood in aging adults, with the indication that music with suggestion will significantly improve subjective measures of mood compared to controls of music without suggestion or an informational recording about chronic pain.

Recruitment Plan

There will be 66 participants who wish to utilize mind-body interventions as treatment for chronic lower back pain.

The individual's eligibility will be determined using an Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Screening Checklist containing the criteria listed above. If an individual appears to be eligible, he/she will be educated about the study purpose, procedures, and requirements. If the individual is interested in participating, they will sign a consent form, which may be signed through mail, through electronic platforms such as DocuSign, or in-person. The participant will be scheduled for their first formal education session and informed consent will take place during this session. This education session will take place through a video conference platform. All three groups will meet with a research staff member approximately five times (once during the education session and approximately once per week each following week) throughout the duration of the study. These sessions will take place through a video conference platform.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Participant must be at least 50 years of age
  • Participant must regularly experience moderate to severe chronic, lower back pain as determined by a self-reported pain rating of ≥ 5 on 11-point numerical rating scale
  • Duration of pain must be ≥ 6 months
  • Participant must be proficient and able to speak, read, and write in English
  • Participant must have access to a computer or mobile device, Internet, and be willing to participate in virtual sessions and use electronic platforms to complete materials

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of any psychiatric condition or symptom that would interfere with participation, specifically active suicidal ideation with intent to harm oneself or active delusional or psychotic thinking
  • History of mental illness (i.e., psychosis, schizophrenia)
  • Non-English speaker
  • Pain classified as neuropathic as detected by the Pain Detect Questionnaire

Treatment and study plan

Music with Suggestion

Behavioral

A nonpharmacological, short-term treatment that poses minimal risk and places very limited burden on patients seems ideal for this population, and music with suggestions is one such treatment option.

Pain Information

Behavioral

The comparison condition of informational recordings about chronic pain are structured to account for non-specific effects of general time and attention and to evaluate whether the treatments of music alone, and music in combination with suggestion are effective in the reduction of pain intensity more than an appropriate control group.

Music

Behavioral

The comparison condition of the music only is structured to account for the effect of music listening, and to evaluate whether the addition of suggestion optimizes its effectiveness in the reduction of pain intensity.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain Intensity Scale

    Time frame: Daily

    Subjective measures of pain intensity, which will be determined using a Pain Intensity Scale. This measure will be completed daily where participants will be asked to rate the intensity of their pain on a scale from 0 (No Pain) to 10 (Very Intense Pain). Higher scores will indicate greater pain intensity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pain Suffering Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

    Time frame: Weekly up to 4 weeks

    To measure pain suffering. Participants will be asked to rate their level of suffering from pain on a 0 (No Suffering) to 10 (Extreme Suffering) scale. Higher scores will indicate greater pain suffering.

  2. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sleep Disturbance Short Form

    Time frame: Weekly up to 4 weeks

    To measure sleep disturbance. This scale measures self-report 1) sleep quality, 2) sleep depth, and 3) restoration associated with sleep. This scale includes 8 items measured on a 5-point scale.

  3. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Emotional Distress-Depression-Short Form

    Time frame: Weekly up to 4 weeks

    To measure depression. This measure assesses self-reported experiences of negative mood, decreased positive affect and decreased engagement over the past 7 days on a 1 (never) to 5 (always) scale. This scale includes 8 items with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptoms.

  4. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Emotional Distress-Anxiety- Short Form

    Time frame: Weekly up to 4 weeks

    To measure anxiety. This measure assesses self-reported fear, worry, dread, hyperarousal, and somatic symptoms related to arousal over the past 7 days on a 1 (never) to 5 (always) scale. This scale includes 8 items with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptoms.

  5. Relaxation Visual Analog Scale

    Time frame: Weekly up to 4 weeks

    To measure relaxation. Participants will be asked to rate their level of relaxation on a scale from 0 (Not Relaxed at All) to 10 (Very Relaxed). Higher scores will indicate greater relaxation.

  6. Self-report of medication use

    Time frame: Daily up to 4 weeks

    Medication use measured by participants' daily self-report of medication use.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Baylor University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Music and Other Audio Recordings for Chronic Pain in Aging Adults: A Randomized Controlled Study

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2023
First posted
Mar 8, 2021
Registry last updated
Aug 1, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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