The Effects of Audio-Based Therapy on Anxiety in Psoriasis

NCT07390487 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: PsOUND-PSO
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Anxiety in psoriasis is associated with impaired quality of life, and the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in psoriatic populations is approximately 34% and anxiety disorders up to 16%. Many experts recommend routine screening, referral, and interventions for anxiety in psoriasis; however, many barriers inhibit access to mental health resources and proper management. To our knowledge, there is a lack of easily accessible interventions that manage anxiety. Audio-based therapy offers convenient and effective interventions that show reduced anxiety in published, randomized studies and is a promising management for psoriasis patients. This study will evaluate the effects of audio therapy in patients with psoriasis and measure changes in overall symptoms.

Conditions

Psoriasis (PsO); Anxiety

Keywords

Surveys and Questionnaires; Acoustic Stimulation; Complementary Therapies

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Anxiety: State Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA)

  The STICSA has good reliability and validity as a measure of state and trait cognitive and somatic anxiety. In this study, the post-intervention anxiety score is subtracted from the pre-intervention anxiety score, giving a measure of anxiety reduction. Greater anxiety reduction scores would indicate a better anxiety outcome.

  From the pre-intervention survey to the post-intervention survey, approximately 30 minutes.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Mood: Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS)

  From the pre-intervention survey to the post-intervention survey, approximately 30 minutes.

• Itch: Itch Numeric Rating Score (INRS)

  From the pre-intervention survey to the post-intervention survey, approximately 30 minutes.

Study Arms (2)

Music Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants listen to the iso-principle music with added auditory beat stimulation playlist for 23-30 minutes.

Behavioral: Music Therapy

Pink Noise

SHAM COMPARATOR

Participants listen to the pink noise playlist for 23-30 minutes.

Behavioral: Pink Noise

Interventions

Music Therapy BEHAVIORAL

Participants listen to the iso-principle music with added auditory beat stimulation playlist for 23-30 minutes.

Also known as: Music therapy and auditory beat stimulation (ABS), Music, Complementary Therapy, Complementary Therapies, Acoustic Stimulation

Music Therapy

Pink Noise BEHAVIORAL

Participants listen to the pink noise playlist for 23-30 minutes.

Pink Noise

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age ≥18 years
• Self-reported dermatologist-diagnosed psoriasis
• GAD 2-Item Score ≥1 at screening
• Ability to consent and complete pre- and post-intervention surveys.
• Internet access and the ability to use a computer/smartphone with headphones for a single 23-30 minute session at home.

You may not qualify if:

• Severe hearing impairment precluding headphone listening
• Any condition requiring strict sound avoidance (such as seizure/epilepsy, major head trauma, severe sound-triggered migraine) that would make participation unsafe.
• Other diagnoses that in the investigator's judgment preclude safe participation or interfere with anxiety or psoriasis evaluation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, San Francisco: lead

Study Sites (1)

Liao Lab at UCSF

San Francisco, California, 94115, United States

Location

Related Publications (10)

• Yan D, Blauvelt A, Dey AK, Golpanian RS, Hwang ST, Mehta NN, Myers B, Shi ZR, Yosipovitch G, Bell S, Liao W. New Frontiers in Psoriatic Disease Research, Part II: Comorbidities and Targeted Therapies. J Invest Dermatol. 2021 Oct;141(10):2328-2337. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.02.743. Epub 2021 Apr 19.

  PMID: 33888321 BACKGROUND

• Watson D, Clark LA, Tellegen A. Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1988 Jun;54(6):1063-70. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.54.6.1063.

  PMID: 3397865 BACKGROUND

• Riew GJ, Kamal K, Hijaz B, Awh KC, Nambudiri VE. Clinical music interventions and music therapy in dermatology. Arch Dermatol Res. 2023 Nov;315(9):2485-2490. doi: 10.1007/s00403-023-02634-1. Epub 2023 May 19.

  PMID: 37208459 BACKGROUND

• Mallik A, Russo FA. The effects of music & auditory beat stimulation on anxiety: A randomized clinical trial. PLoS One. 2022 Mar 9;17(3):e0259312. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259312. eCollection 2022.

  PMID: 35263341 BACKGROUND

• Jalenques I, Bourlot F, Martinez E, Pereira B, D'Incan M, Lauron S, Rondepierre F. Prevalence and Odds of Anxiety Disorders and Anxiety Symptoms in Children and Adults with Psoriasis: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Acta Derm Venereol. 2022 Aug 26;102:adv00769. doi: 10.2340/actadv.v102.1386.

  PMID: 35604236 BACKGROUND

• Hedemann TL, Liu X, Kang CN, Husain MI. Associations between psoriasis and mental illness: an update for clinicians. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2022 Mar-Apr;75:30-37. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.01.006. Epub 2022 Jan 25.

  PMID: 35101785 BACKGROUND

• Gros DF, Antony MM, Simms LJ, McCabe RE. Psychometric properties of the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA): comparison to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Psychol Assess. 2007 Dec;19(4):369-81. doi: 10.1037/1040-3590.19.4.369.

  PMID: 18085930 BACKGROUND

• Phan NQ, Blome C, Fritz F, Gerss J, Reich A, Ebata T, Augustin M, Szepietowski JC, Stander S. Assessment of pruritus intensity: prospective study on validity and reliability of the visual analogue scale, numerical rating scale and verbal rating scale in 471 patients with chronic pruritus. Acta Derm Venereol. 2012 Sep;92(5):502-7. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1246.

  PMID: 22170091 BACKGROUND

• Gray EK, Watson, D. Assessing positive and negative affect via self-report. In: Coan JA, Allen, J.J.B., editor. Handbook of emotion elicitation and assessment. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2007.

  BACKGROUND

• Bados A, Gomez-Benito J, Balaguer G. The state-trait anxiety inventory, trait version: does it really measure anxiety? J Pers Assess. 2010 Nov;92(6):560-7. doi: 10.1080/00223891.2010.513295.

  PMID: 20954057 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psoriasis; Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Music Therapy; Complementary Therapies; Acoustic Stimulation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Skin Diseases, Papulosquamous; Skin Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sensory Art Therapies; Therapeutics; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Physical Stimulation; Investigative Techniques

Study Officials

• Wilson Liao, MD

  University of California, San Francisco

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Amélie Spangenberg, Psoriasis Clinical Research Fellow, MBBS

CONTACT

415-944-7618; amelie.spangenberg@ucsf.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 29, 2026
• First Posted: February 5, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Last Updated: February 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)