Group Music Therapy for Chronic Pain Management in Active Duty Service Members With Chronic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
Summary
This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week group music therapy intervention for active duty service members with chronic pain. Participants will be randomized to either a group music therapy intervention plus standard care or standard care alone. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post- treatment (8 weeks), and 1-month follow-up. Primary outcomes include pain interference and pain intensity. Secondary outcomes include pain-related self-efficacy, depression, anxiety, positive affect, sleep disturbance, patient perception of change, and pain medication use. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with a subset of participants who receive music therapy to explore subjective experiences and perceived treatment benefits.
Description
Chronic pain is a significant health concern among military personnel and veterans and is associated with disability and reduced quality of life. Music therapy is a non-pharmacological intervention that may address biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to chronic pain. This mixed-methods research study embeds qualitative inquiry within a randomized controlled trial. A total of 130 active duty service members with chronic pain will be randomized 1:1 to either an 8-week group music therapy intervention plus standard care or standard care alone. The music therapy interventio…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–64 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Active duty service member * Age 18 -64 years of age * Diagnosis of chronic benign pain for at least 3 months * Average pain severity greater than 4/10 on the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale * Able to read and understand English Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy * Mental health conditions that would prevent compliance with or productive participation in group sessions * Cognitive impairment preventing completion of study measures * Malignant disease * Progressive neurological disorder * Moderate to profound hearing impairment not corrected with hearing aids * Prev…
Interventions
- BehavioralMusic intervention
An 8-week standardized music therapy protocol delivered in weekly 75-minute group sessions. The intervention is guided by a biopsychosocial framework and includes music-guided breathing, relaxation exercises, group improvisation, processing of music experiences, meaningful music listening, and home practice of music-based pain management skills.
Location
- Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER)Anchorage, Alaska