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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00178360

Effects of Music Therapy on Huntington's Disease

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Huntington's Disease Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Chorea Cognition Disorders Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Dementia Dyskinesias Genetic Diseases, Inborn Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System Huntington Disease Mental Disorders Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders Neurodegenerative Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

University of Rochester Medical Center

Rochester, New York, 14642, United States

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

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

Treatment and study plan

Music Therapy

Behavioral

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

Primary outcomes

  1. To examine the feasibility and tolerability of a treatment program of MT for subjects with HD.

    Time frame: End of Study

Secondary outcomes

  1. To determine if MT improves the mood and motor features of HD while improving quality of life.

    Time frame: End of study

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Rochester

Other

Registry information

Official study title

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

Important dates

Study start
2004
Primary completion
2008
Study completion
2010
First posted
Sep 15, 2005
Registry last updated
Aug 22, 2011

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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