Personalized music for distress after ICU discharge

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This single-case experimental design follows participants through three phases: baseline, music-listening intervention, and follow-up. Participants log daily distress levels and engage in at least 30 minutes of self-selected music at home. The study aims to see if personalized music reduces psychological distress, anxiety and depression symptoms, and improves health-related quality of life after ICU care. Eligibility requires adults who recently left ICU/HDU, have internet access, and report some distress, with several safety and language criteria in place. The lead sponsor is the University of Edinburgh, with NHS Fife as a collaborator, and the study is conducted at NHS Fife in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years or older.
* Experienced an admission to an ICU/HDU of any length and not yet participated in InS:PIRE.
* Access to an internet-enabled device and internet connection whilst at home.
* Experiencing some distress relating to their ICU/HDU admission - a cut-off score of 4 on the VAS 'Distress Thermometer' has been used previously (Hofhuis et al., 2025).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Are unable to give informed consent e.g. have a significant cognitive impairment due to illness, injury or neurological condition, or are currently experiencing delirium or acute psychotic illness.
* Have significant communication difficulties or limited English and cannot access validated outcome measures or translation services in the given language.
* Are experiencing a mental health crisis or have recently attempted suicide, where ongoing significant risk of harm to themselves or others remains.
* Have an uncorrected hearing impairment that would prevent them from hearing their music playlist.
* Are participating in another study aimed at reducing distress.

Where it's running

• NHS Fife
  Kirkcaldy, Fife, United Kingdom Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Joanna Rickman, MSc, BSc
• Email: J.B.Rickman@sms.ed.ac.uk
• Phone: 0131 651 3969

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.