Stepped-care music listening and imagery for pain relief in Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain
Official title: Stepped-Care Intervention of Music and Imagery to Assess Relief (SCIMITAR) Trial
Run by Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine · NCT07217821 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether a stepped telehealth program of music listening followed by music imagery can help Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain reduce their pain and related distress.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 180 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Indianapolis, Indiana) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 30, 2023 |
| Main results expected | January 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | April 30, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | October 16, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07217821 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are Veterans with low back, neck, hip, knee, or shoulder pain lasting at least three months who report at least moderate pain (PEG ≥ 4) and can use a smartphone, tablet, or computer for telehealth visits.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with recent hospitalization, housing insecurity, active suicidal intent, significant hearing or cognitive impairment, or those already receiving music therapy are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
SCIMITAR is a two-arm randomized controlled trial that will enroll 180 Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain and randomize them 1:1 to a stepped-care music intervention or a waitlist control. The intervention uses telehealth-delivered music listening and, if needed, guided music imagery in a sequential stepped-care format based on participant response. Outcomes include pain severity and related psychological symptoms measured at baseline and follow-up time points. The trial builds on a prior pilot (FAMILIA) that established feasibility and acceptability of telehealth music interventions for Veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce pain intensity and emotional distress while providing a scalable non-pharmacologic telehealth option for Veterans with chronic MSK pain.
How similar studies have gone: A prior pilot (FAMILIA) showed telehealth music listening and imagery were feasible and acceptable to Veterans, but larger randomized trials of clinical effectiveness are still limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * musculoskeletal pain in the low back, cervical spine, or extremities (hips, knees, or shoulders) for ≥ 3 months * at least moderate pain severity, defined as a PEG score ≥ 4 on a 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain) * access to computer, tablet, or smartphone * ability to pass a technology assessment Exclusion Criteria: * Past month hospitalization for medical or psychiatric illness * housing insecurity * suicidal ideation with current intent/plan * hearing or cognitive impairment that may interfere with music listening or abstract thinking needed for imagery work * currently receiving music therapy services
Where it's running
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Veterans Health Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Sara M Kass, MD
- Email: skass@hjf.org
- Phone: 240-463-2600
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.