Feasibility of Intensive Group Music Therapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial of intensive group music therapy for acute adult psychiatric inpatients (F-IGMT WP4)
IRAS ID
207469
Contact name
Catherine Carr
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 22 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Music therapy can reduce mental illness symptoms and may be an important part of inpatient care. Hospital stays are short so frequent sessions are needed to make a difference. A PhD study found intensive provision (3 times per week) was acceptable to patients and identified important features of practice. We have developed guidance for music therapists (a manual) based on this. The next step is to see if it is effective. This research will run a small study to see if a larger effectiveness study is possible and realistic.The study has two parts. In part one, adults admitted into hospital will be invited to participate. We will randomise those who consent to participate to either intervention (group music therapy) or treatment as usual. We plan to recruit 30 participants.
Intervention participants will be offered 60 minutes of off-ward group music therapy, 4 times per week for up to 4 weeks. Those receiving treatment as usual will continue to receive all other usual care.
In part 2, we will offer music therapy on one ward to all patients. We will invite patients to take part in assessments on this ward and on another ward which does not have music therapy.
As the aim is to see if a larger study is feasible, we will look at the number of people recruited into the study and how many people leave. We will also look at how music therapy is provided and how the guidance is followed in practice.
Outcomes will be assessed at the beginning, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 3 months and 6 months later. We will use this information to see if any changes can be detected and which measures capture change best.
Findings will help us to decide if a larger effectiveness study is possible and inform the design.
Summary of Results
Music therapy can reduce mental illness symptoms. Hospital stays are short, so frequent sessions are needed to make a difference. A PhD study found intensive provision (3 times per week) was acceptable to patients and identified important features of practice. This study developed guidance for music therapists (a manual) and to ran two small studies to see if a larger effectiveness study is possible.
We developed a manual based on existing research and analysis of music therapy sessions. This was presented to music therapists, patients and ward clinicians for their feedback.
We then looked at two study designs. In one, participants were randomised to group music therapy or treatment as usual. We aimed to recruit 30 patients. Group music therapy was held off the ward, 4 times per week which participants could attend for up to 4 weeks. In design 2, we offered music therapy on one ward to all patients.
We invited patients to complete assessments on this ward and on another ward which did not have music therapy. We aimed to recruit 18 patients.
We looked at the number of people recruited into the study and how many people left. Clinical outcomes were assessed at the beginning, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 3 months and 6 months later.
We recruited 26 participants in design 1 and only four in design 2. Half of the participants left before the final assessment. This suggests a trial would be possible with design 1, but would need longer to recruit and strategies to help keep participants. Another small study is needed before a larger trial can be done. The guidance was used successfully but could be improved with different training methods.REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0505
Date of REC Opinion
30 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion