Music Therapy in Parkinson's Disease

NCT07734181 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2026-00839
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine whether individual music therapy - involving the slow, gentle bowing of a string instrument, accompanied by the music therapist's singing and lyre playing - can have a relaxing and calming effect on patients with Parkinson's disease and improve anxiety, quality of life, and autonomic dysfunction such as unstable blood pressure. People with Parkinson's disease often struggle with anxiety, apathy, and depression, which can severely affect their quality of life. These symptoms are usually difficult to treat adequately with medication. They are frequently associated with dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system and a reduced variability of heart rate. Both are common in Parkinson's disease and can provide clues about stress and well-being. A healthy heart does not beat at completely regular intervals; instead, the time between beats constantly changes slightly. This fluctuation is called heart rate variability (HRV). Primary study outcome will be anxiety. Motivation, depression, individual quality of life, and severity of autonomic symptoms are also assessed using validated questionnaires. Physical study measures will be HRV, along with stability of blood pressure, intensity of tremor, ability to walk, and also electroencephalography (EEG) to assess brain activity. A subproject will explore whether listening to emotionally evocative music can specifically influence the brain in patients with Parkinson's disease (as measured by EEG) and autonomic functions (as measured by HRV). The effectiveness of an emotional response will be measured by a questionnaire (the Geneva Emotional Music Scale).

Conditions

Parkinson's Disease (PD)

Keywords

Parkinson's disease; Music therapy; Anthroposophical music therapy; EEG; HRV; Parkinson Anxiety Scale (PAS)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Parkinson Anxiety Scale (PAS)

  The Parkinson Anxiety Scale (PAS) is a 12-item, Parkinson's disease-specific rating scale that measures anxiety severity across three domains: persistent anxiety, episodic anxiety, and avoidance behavior. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety.

  From four weeks before the first treatment (pre-baseline), immediately before the first treatment (baseline), after weeks 4 and 8 of the weekly treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of therapy (follow-up), through study completion, on average 4 months.

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15)

  From four weeks before the first treatment (pre-baseline), immediately before the first treatment (baseline), after weeks 4 and 8 of the weekly treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of therapy (follow-up), through study completion, on average 4 months.

• Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's disease - Autonomic Dysfunction (SCOPA-AUT)

  From four weeks before the first treatment (pre-baseline), immediately before the first treatment (baseline), after weeks 4 and 8 of the weekly treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of therapy (follow-up), through study completion, on average 4 months.

• General Self-Efficacy Scale (SWE)

  From four weeks before the first treatment (pre-baseline), immediately before the first treatment (baseline), after weeks 4 and 8 of the weekly treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of therapy (follow-up), through study completion, on average 4 months.

• Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES)

  From four weeks before the first treatment (pre-baseline), immediately before the first treatment (baseline), after weeks 4 and 8 of the weekly treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of therapy (follow-up), through study completion, on average 4 months.

• Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life (SEIQoL-Q)

  From four weeks before the first treatment (pre-baseline), immediately before the first treatment (baseline), after weeks 4 and 8 of the weekly treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of therapy (follow-up), through study completion, on average 4 months.

Other Outcomes (6)

• modified Schellong test (orthostatic function)

  from onset of a therapy session to the end of a therapy session (avg. 45 min.), and 4 weeks before the 1st treatment, immediately before the 1st treatment, after weeks 4 and 8 of the weekly treatment, and 4 weeks after end of therapy (average 4 months).

• Timed up and Go Test (TUG)

  from onset of a therapy session to the end of a therapy session (avg. 45 min.), and 4 weeks before the 1st treatment, immediately before the 1st treatment, after weeks 4 and 8 of the weekly treatment, and 4 weeks after end of therapy (average 4 months).

• Tremor

  From four weeks before the first treatment (pre-baseline), immediately before the first treatment (baseline), after weeks 4 and 8 of the weekly treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of therapy (follow-up), through study completion, on average 4 months.

Study Arms (1)

Music therapy intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Music therapy

Interventions

Music therapy OTHER

Eight weekly individual sessions of music therapy for patients with Parkinson's disease. Part 1 - Listening to lyre music (10 minutes) Participants listen to emotionally stimulating lyre music. Part 2 - Active playing of a string instrument (20 minutes) Participants perform slow, calm bowing of a low string instrument, the Tenor Chrotta (with a pitch range comparable to the cello), guided and supported by the singing of the music therapist.

Music therapy intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years - 79 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Parkinson's disease, Hoehn and Yahr stages 1-4
• good understanding of the German language
• Signed written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Previous music therapy within the last 12 months
• Severe hearing impairment
• Manifest dementia (MoCA \< 20)
• Severe physical disability
• Severe somatic or psychiatric illness
• Concurrent participation in another clinical trial targeting treatment of Parkinson's disease

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Siegward -M. Elsas: lead

Study Sites (1)

Klinik Arlesheim AG

Arlesheim, Basel-Landschaft, 4144, Switzerland

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Interventions

Music Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sensory Art Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Siegward Elsas, Dr. med.

  Klinik Arlesheim

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Siegward Elsas, Dr. med.

CONTACT

+41 61 705 71 13; Siegward.Elsas@klinik-arlesheim.ch

Tiffany Huber, Msc.

CONTACT

+41 61 705 71 55; tiffany.huber@klinik-arlesheim.ch

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 19, 2026
• First Posted: July 29, 2026
• Study Start: June 2, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 2, 2028
• Last Updated: July 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Locations

CH (1)