Group music therapy for chronic depression

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Study on Group Music Therapy for Chronic Depression: An Exploratory Pilot to Assess Feasibility of a Randomised Controlled Trial with Wait-list Control

  • IRAS ID

    207886

  • Contact name

    Catherine Elizabeth Carr

  • Contact email

    c.e.carr@qmul.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    East London NHS Trust Foundation

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 7 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    This study explores how best to design a trial to offer group music therapy in the community for chronic depression. Treating chronic depression is challenging: frequent relapses can be demoralising for patients and carers, and has high healthcare costs. Music therapy aims to support health, using therapeutic relationships and musical activities with verbal reflection. Studies support music therapy for decreasing depression symptoms, however research is lacking for groups in the NHS. This study aims to examine how feasible it is to conduct a research study in this area.
    The study will compare the responses of individuals with chronic depression (i.e. clinical depression lasting over two years) receiving 14 weeks of group music therapy (the ‘treatment group’) to those on a waiting list. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups of up to 10 members, or the waiting list group of up to 10.
    All study participants will complete interviews and questionnaires to assess their symptoms of depression, lifestyle, interest in music and functioning at the start of the study, and 1, 3 and 6 months later. Treatment group members will be invited to a community centre for the thrice weekly groups, lasting 90 minutes and focusing on song-writing as a means of supporting well-being. During this period, they will complete assessments on mood state and quality of life. The investigators will access medical records to calculate overall costs of care including the treatment costs, to compare to the waiting list group. After the intervention, treatment group participants will be invited to an interview to gain further understanding of their experiences and views on the research. The wait-list group will be offered music therapy. Findings will be published in international scientific and lay press, publicised to charities and professional associations, to inform future practice and research.

  • REC name

    Wales REC 2

  • REC reference

    16/WA/0248

  • Date of REC Opinion

    13 Sep 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion