The Effects of Exercise and Music Combination on Drug Cravings, Depression and Self-Efficacy Among Drug Addicts

This study focuses on the rehabilitation of drug addicts by combining exercise and music, to find out whether exercise and exercise combined with music of different rhythms will have an improvement for drug addicts.

1. What are the Chinese translated versions of the Basic Depression Questionnaire (CBD), the Mann Craving Scale (MaCS), the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS SR-16), and the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSES)? 2. Based on confirmatory factor analysis, are the Chinese versions of the CBD, MaCS, QIDS SR-16, and NGSES valid and reliable? 3. Is the concurrent validity of the translated versions of the CBD and MaCS supported when compared to the Chinese versions of the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS SR-16) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively? 4. Which exercise programs, fast-paced music, and slow-paced music are suitable for drug addicts? 5. is there an effect of exercise and music therapy on drug craving, depression, and self-efficacy in drug addicts (time, group, and interaction)? The researchers divided the participants into four groups: a control group; an exercise group; an exercise combined with a tempo group; and an exercise combined with a slow tempo group.

* Scientific physical activity at a fixed time each week for 6 months * Conducted questionnaires and addiction level tests between each month * Record their emotional status and addiction level.

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Key information

Conditions

Drug Craving Levels Among Individuals With Substance Addiction Depression Levels Among Individuals With Substance Addiction Self-efficacy Among Individuals With Substance Addiction

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Kota Bharu, Kelantan, 10000, Malaysia

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Drug-addicted individuals aged 18 years or older.
Confirmed diagnosis of drug addiction through testing and currently undergoing compulsory drug rehabilitation treatment at a compulsory isolation drug rehabilitation centre in China.
Educational attainment of primary school level or above and capable of independently completing questionnaires.
No prior occupational experience in sports or music-related fields.

Exclusion criteria

Less than six months remaining in the educational phase of compulsory isolation drug rehabilitation.
Presence of other severe drug addiction-related complications, such as infectious diseases (e.g., HIV/AIDS), severe cardiovascular or respiratory system diseases.
Presence of other conditions that may impair hearing or motor function, such as hearing impairments or medical contraindications for physical activity due to other health conditions.
Refusal to participate in this experimental study or refusal to sign the informed consent form.

Treatment and study plan

Sports group

Behavioral

The intervention groups in the experiment comprised three main categories: an exercise-only group, an exercise-combined-with-fast-paced-music group, and an exercise-combined-with-slow-music group. Participants engaged in activities mandated by the compulsory isolation drug rehabilitation centre, while researchers administered three distinct treatment protocols to the subjects.

Exercise combined with fast-paced music group

Behavioral

Participate in the standard activities required at the compulsory isolation drug rehabilitation centre, whilst researchers will supplement the treatment regimen for subjects with exercise combined with fast-paced music.

Exercise combined with slow-tempo music group

Behavioral

Participants will engage in standard activities required at the compulsory isolation drug rehabilitation centre, whilst researchers will supplement the treatment regimen with exercise combined with slow-tempo music.

Primary outcomes

Depression

Time frame: Indicator measurements were taken from the commencement of the experiment until its conclusion, with one measurement taken prior to the experiment and subsequent monthly measurements every month thereafter, totalling seven measurements over the six-month

Depression serves as the single core indicator under investigation, assessed via two independent scales: ① the Common Depression Questionnaire (CBD), and ② the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS-SR16).

Both scales measure participants' depressive states, yet results will be presented and analysed separately to enhance the reliability and stability of depression symptom assessment.

The CBD scores range from 0 to 63 points, with higher scores indicating greater severity of depression. Scores are categorised as follows: no depression (0 to 19); mild depression (20 to 29); moderate depression (30 to 39); and severe depression (40 or more).

The QIDS-SR16 ranges from 0-27 points, with higher scores indicating greater depression severity.1-5 points: no depression; 6-10 points: mild depression;11-15 points: moderate depression; 16-20 points: severe depression; 21-27 points: very severe depression.
Drug Craving

Time frame: Indicator measurements were taken from the commencement of the experiment until its conclusion, with one measurement taken prior to the experiment and subsequent monthly measurements every month thereafter, totalling seven measurements over the six-month
This study employed the Mannheim Craving Scale (MaCS) German version and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to assess participants' drug craving levels. Both instruments measure the same core indicator, "drug craving level", but were recorded and analysed as independent measurement tools to enhance measurement reliability and reflect the breadth of the dimension.
- MaCS (German version) is a graded rating scale (scoring range: 0-48 points, with higher scores indicating stronger craving)
- VAS visual analogue scoring employs a 0-10 cm quantitative scale, where 0 denotes complete absence of craving and 10 denotes extremely strong craving
Measurement timepoints: One baseline measurement prior to the experiment, followed by monthly measurements during the experiment, totalling seven measurements over six months.
Self-Efficacy

Time frame: Measurements were taken from the commencement of the experiment until its conclusion, with one measurement prior to the experiment and one monthly thereafter, totalling seven measurements over the six-month experimental period.

Self-efficacy will be evaluated using the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSES).

The NGSES is a Likert-type scale with a total scores range from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived self-efficacy.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

WEIPENG DUAN

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2024
Primary completion: 2024
Study completion: 2024
First posted: Dec 12, 2025
Registry last updated: Dec 12, 2025

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.