Using music therapy to help medical students with mental health issues

Effect of Telemedicine Music Therapy in Medical Students With Depression, Anxiety, or Insomnia.

Not applicable Interventional Jiangsu Province Nanjing Brain Hospital · NCT05949736

This study is testing whether online music therapy can help medical students who are dealing with depression, anxiety, and insomnia feel better.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment200 (estimated)
Ages16 Years to 35 Years
SexAll
SponsorJiangsu Province Nanjing Brain Hospital Academic / other
Locations3 sites (Haikou, Hainan and 2 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05949736 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of Internet-based Music Therapy (MT) for medical students experiencing depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a music therapy group, receiving 12 sessions over 3-4 weeks, or a waiting control group. The MT sessions will focus on relaxation techniques, guided music imagination, and internal self-exploration to improve mental health outcomes. Clinical assessments will be conducted at various intervals to measure the impact of the therapy on participants' mental well-being.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are medical students with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or insomnia.

Not a fit: Patients with severe mental health conditions, such as active suicidal ideation or psychotic disorders, will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide an accessible and effective non-pharmacological treatment option for mental health issues among medical students.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results for music therapy in improving mental health, suggesting that this approach may be effective.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

Participants with a total score of PHQ-9 \>5 or a total score of GAD-7 \>5 or a total score of ISI \>7 will be eligible to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Participants with self-reported lifetime suicide attempt, active self-harm, or active suicidal ideation with intent will be excluded from the study.
2. Participants with a clinician-diagnosed bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, or any psychotic disorder, including schizophrenia, will not be eligible to participate.
3. Individuals who are incapable of understanding or completing study procedures and digital intervention, as determined by the participant, patient/legal guardian, healthcare provider, or clinical research team, will be excluded.

Where this trial is running

Haikou, Hainan and 2 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions DepressionAnxietyInsomniaTelemedicineMusic TherapyMental sub-healthAcoustic featuresWearable devices
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.