Music therapy as an adjunct to standard treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder and co-morbid anxiety and depression: A randomized clinical trial.


Author: Shirani Bidabadi S1, Mehryar A2.

Affiliation: 1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht Branch, Marvdasht, Iran. Electronic address: shahrzadshirani@miau.ac.ir. 2Department of Behavioural Science, Institute for Research on Management and Planning, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: AmirMehryar36@gmail.com.
Conference/Journal: J Affect Disord.
Date published: 2015 Apr 11
Other:
 Volume ID: 184   ,  Pages: 13-17   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.04.011   ,  Word Count: 265  
    

BACKGROUND:

Previous studies have highlighted the potential therapeutic benefits of music therapy as an adjunct to standard care, in a variety of psychiatric ailments including mood and anxiety disorders. However, the role of music in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have not been investigated to date.

METHODS:

In a single-center, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial (NCT02314195) 30 patients with OCD were randomly assigned to standard treatment (pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavior therapy) plus 12 sessions of individual music therapy (n=15) or standard treatment only (n=15) for one month. Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form were administered baseline and after one month.

RESULTS:

Thirty patients completed the study. Music therapy resulted in a greater decrease in total obsessive score (post-intervention score: music therapy+standard treatment: 12.4±1.9 vs standard treatment only: 15.1±1.7, p<0.001, effect size=56.7%). For subtypes, significant between-group differences were identified for checking (p=0.004), and slowness (p=0.019), but not for washing or responsibility. Music therapy was significantly more effective in reducing anxiety (post-intervention score: music therapy+standard treatment: 16.9±7.4 vs standard treatment only: 22.9±4.6, p<0.001, effect size=47.0%), and depressive symptoms (post-intervention score: music therapy+standard treatment: 10.8±3.8 vs standard treatment: 17.1±3.7, p<0.001, effect size=47.0%).

LIMITATIONS:

Inclusion of a small sample size, lack of blinding due to the nature of the intervention, short duration of follow-up.

CONCLUSION:

In patients with OCD, music therapy, as an adjunct to standard care, seems to be effective in reducing obsessions, as well as co-morbid anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

KEYWORDS:

Anxiety disorders/therapy; Combined modality therapy; Music therapy/methods; Obsessive compulsive disorder; Randomized clinical trial; Treatment outcome

PMID: 26066780