NCT02991014

Brief Summary

This study aims to compare the impact of listening to frequency-modulated music vs. non-modulated music (both researcher-selected), and to test whether there are differential effects on pain and stress perception. Further, these two conditions will be compared to a third condition, in which participants will be exposed to self-selected non-modulated music. It is hypothesized that both researcher-selected frequency-modulated music and self-selected non-modulated music result in stronger decreases in stress and pain compared to researcher-selected non-modulated music, while it is expected that there will be no differences in researcher-selected frequency-modulated music and self-selected non-modulated music. The intervention consists of ten sessions of music listening in the course of three consecutive weeks.

Trial Health

47
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
90

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2016

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
2 countries

2 active sites

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 1, 2016

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

December 2, 2016

Completed
11 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

December 13, 2016

Completed
6 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 1, 2022

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 1, 2022

Completed
Last Updated

April 28, 2021

Status Verified

April 1, 2021

Enrollment Period

6 years

First QC Date

December 2, 2016

Last Update Submit

April 27, 2021

Conditions

Keywords

music interventionheart rate variabilityfrequency modulationpain perceptioncold pressor test (CPT)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Pain Tolerance

    Cold pressor test (CPT): Duration in seconds from immersion of one hand into cold water until removal of the hand: * baseline before music intervention * post assessment after completion of music intervention (3 weeks)

    Pre-Post-Change-Design: change from baseline to after 3 weeks

  • Pain Intensity

    Cold pressor test (CPT): Subjective pain intensity of the test rated via visual analog scale at the time of removal of the hand * baseline assessment before music intervention * post assessment after completion of music intervention (3 weeks)

    Pre-Post-Change-Design: change from baseline to after 3 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

  • Subjective Stress Experience

    Pre-Post-Change-Design: change from baseline to after 3 weeks; process analysis during the course of the intervention

  • Subjective Stress Experience

    Pre-Post-Change-Design: change from baseline to after 3 weeks

  • Physiological Stress: Heart Rate Variability Indices

    Pre-Post-Change-Design: change from baseline to after 3 weeks, process analysis during the course of the intervention

  • Physiological Stress: Electrodermal activity (EDA)

    Pre-Post-Change-Design; change from baseline to after 3 weeks, process analysis during the course of the intervention

  • Physiological Stress: Hair Cortisol

    Pre-Post-Change-Design, change from baseline to 4 weeks after post assessment

Other Outcomes (2)

  • Fatigue

    Pre-Post-Change-Design; change from baseline to after 3 weeks

  • Sleep Quality

    Pre-Follow Up-Change-Design; change from baseline to 4 weeks after post assessment

Study Arms (3)

researcher-selected frequency-modulated music

ACTIVE COMPARATOR
Behavioral: researcher-selected frequency-modulated music

researcher-selected non-modulated music

PLACEBO COMPARATOR
Behavioral: researcher-selected non-modulated music

participant-selected non-modulated music

EXPERIMENTAL
Behavioral: participant-selected non-modulated music

Interventions

Music pieces have been selected in advance by the researchers. Furthermore, musical frequencies have been artificially modulated.

researcher-selected frequency-modulated music

The same music pieces as in the active comparator arm have been selected in advance by the researchers, but no artificial frequency modulation.

researcher-selected non-modulated music

Participants bring their own choice of personally preferred music pieces and listen to them during the intervention sessions. There is no frequency modulation in this condition.

participant-selected non-modulated music

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 35 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • age: 18 - 35 years
  • BMI: 18.5 - 30 kg/m²
  • full command of the German language
  • capability to attend ten sessions of music listening in our laboratory within three consecutive weeks, each for a duration of one hour

You may not qualify if:

  • music related profession or studies
  • absolute hearing (self-report)
  • physical conditions (self-report): tinnitus, hearing impairments, extreme visual impairment, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, artery occlusive disease, hyper-/hypotension, Raynaud syndrome, chronic pain condition
  • pregnancy, breastfeeding
  • current mental disorders (self-report): major depression, anxiety disorder, eating disorder, substance dependence, psychosis, schizophrenia
  • regular intake of pain drugs/psychotropic drugs
  • not being able to refrain from smoking for 2.5 hours

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

University of Vienna

Vienna, 1010, Austria

RECRUITING

Philipps-University Marburg, Department of Psychology, Clinical Biopsychology

Marburg, Hesse, 35037, Germany

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Feneberg AC, Kappert MB, Maidhof RM, Doering BK, Olbrich D, Nater UM. Efficacy, Treatment Characteristics, and Biopsychological Mechanisms of Music-Listening Interventions in Reducing Pain (MINTREP): Study Protocol of a Three-Armed Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Front Psychiatry. 2020 Nov 4;11:518316. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.518316. eCollection 2020.

Study Officials

  • Urs Nater, PhD

    University of Vienna

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Prof. Dr.

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

December 2, 2016

First Posted

December 13, 2016

Study Start

December 1, 2016

Primary Completion

December 1, 2022

Study Completion

December 1, 2022

Last Updated

April 28, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-04

Locations