Music Therapy in Parkinson's Disease

Official title

Harmonization of Breathing Through Music Therapy and Its Impact on Anxiety, Quality of Life, and Autonomic Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease

Overview

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).

Interventions

• Other Music therapy
  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.

Primary outcome measures

• Parkinson Anxiety Scale (PAS) [Time frame: 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 outcome measures (7)

• Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) [Time frame: 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) [Time frame: 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) [Time frame: 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) [Time frame: 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) [Time frame: 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.]
• Multidimensional Mood Questionnaire (MDBF) [Time frame: from the beginning of a therapy session to the end of a therapy session, on average over 45 minutes]
• Heart Rate Variability (HRV) [Time frame: 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).]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

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

Exclusion criteria

• 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

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

N/A

Model

Single group

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Switzerland · 1 center

• Klinik Arlesheim AG — Arlesheim

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07734181 · 2026-00839

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗