Using music to improve therapy for PTSD
A Frequency-Modulated Music Intervention to Enhance Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD
This study is testing if listening to special music before therapy sessions can help people with PTSD feel better.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ohio State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Columbus, Ohio and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06925867 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial investigates whether adding frequency-filtered music to cognitive processing therapy (CPT) enhances its effectiveness in reducing PTSD symptoms. Participants will receive 10 daily sessions of CPT while listening to either filtered or unfiltered classical music for 15 minutes before each session. The study aims to assess the impact of music on PTSD symptoms and physiological stress regulation. Participants will be randomized to receive one of the two music conditions to evaluate differences in outcomes.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older who meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD or subthreshold PTSD with hyperarousal.
Not a fit: Patients with certain medical conditions, such as heart issues or severe traumatic brain injury, may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve the treatment outcomes for patients with PTSD.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of music in therapy is not entirely novel, this specific approach combining frequency-filtered music with cognitive processing therapy has not been extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * At least 18 years of age * Meets diagnostic criteria for a) PTSD or b) subthreshold PTSD with hyperarousal (i.e., meets diagnostic threshold for 3 of 4 symptoms, one of which is hyperarousal) * Ability to move between sitting to standing without assistance * Ability to attend two weeks of daily in-person therapy sessions at either the Ohio State University or at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) Medical Center Exclusion Criteria: * Heart condition (such as cardiac arrhythmia) or pacemaker * An allergy that would prevent wearing adhesive for durations of 2 hours or less * Insufficient English fluency to fully engage in psychotherapy * Use of hearing aids * Current or prior tinnitus (persistent ringing or other noises in ears not caused by an external sound) * Severe traumatic brain injury * An ongoing stressor or condition deemed by the investigators to place the participant at risk for injury or a poor outcome (e.g., undergoing disability evaluation, undergoing a medical board evaluation to be medically discharged from the military, pending negative administrative or legal actions). * Inability to complete the informed consent process due to the acute effects of a medical or psychiatric condition (e.g., intoxication, mania, psychosis)
Where this trial is running
Columbus, Ohio and 1 other locations
- The Ohio State University — Columbus, Ohio, United States (Recruiting)
- Wright Patterson Air Force Base Mental Health Center — Dayton, Ohio, United States (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.