A Phase 2 interventional study of Music intervention in Chronic Pain, sponsored by Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 64 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-27.
Sponsored by Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
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.
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 intervention consists of eight weekly 75-minute sessions delivered in groups of 6-8 participants and includes music-guided breathing, music-based relaxation exercises, group improvisation, verbal processing, listening to meaningful music, and instruction in music-based pain self-management strategies.
Primary outcomes are pain interference and pain intensity. Secondary outcomes include pain-related self-efficacy, depression, anxiety, positive affect, sleep disturbance, patient global impression of change, disability, and pain medication use. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, week 8, and 1-month follow-up. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with approximately 20 participants from the music therapy arm after follow-up assessment to explore treatment experiences and perceived benefits
3,227 studies on the registry are indexed under Chronic Pain; 729 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 130 is above the median of 60 across 2,388 interventional studies indexed under Chronic Pain.
Browse Chronic Pain studies →Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine is the lead sponsor of 86 studies on the registry; 18 are open to participants now.
Of its 7 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 2 (29%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants will receive eight weekly 75-minute group music therapy sessions in addition to standard pain management care. Sessions include music-guided breathing, relaxation exercises, group improvisation, music listening, discussion, and music-based pain self-management training.
Behavioral: Music intervention
Participants will receive standard pain management services available at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. These may include medication management, physical therapy, acupuncture, cognitive behavioral therapy, and interventional pain procedures.
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.
Also known as: Group Music Therapy
Pain Intensity
As measured by the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS), where each item is scored 0-10 and a higher total score indicates a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, and 1-Month Follow-Up as well as pre and post- session
Pain Interference
As measured by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference 8-item Scale, where each item is scored 1-5 and a higher total score indicates a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, and 1-Month Follow-Up
Pain-related self-efficacy
As measured by the 6-item University of Washington Pain Related Self-Efficacy Scale (UWPRSE), where each item is scored 1-5 and a higher total score indicates a better outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, 1-Month Follow-Up
Depression
As measured by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire scale (PHQ-9), where each item is scored 0-3 and a higher total score indicates a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, 1-Month Follow-Up
Anxiety
As measured by the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), where each item is scored 0-3 and a higher total score indicates a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, 1-Month Follow-Up
Positive Well-Being
As measured by the 14-item Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), where each item is scored 1-5 and a higher total score indicates a better outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, 1-Month Follow-Up
Sleep Disturbance
As measured by the 8-item PROMIS® Sleep Disturbance Short Form-8a, where each item is scored 1-5 and a higher total score indicates a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, 1-Month Follow-Up
Disability
As measured by the 10-item Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), where each item is scored 0-5 and a higher total score indicates a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, 1-Month Follow-Up
Patient Perception of Change
As measured by the Patient Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC), a single item scale that uses a 1-7 score and a higher score indicates a better outcome.
Time frame: Week 8, 1-Month Follow-Up
Pain Medication Use
Medication use from participant daily reports for 7 days
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, 1-Month Follow-Up
Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (Moderator)
As measured by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), where each item is scored 0-4 and a higher total score indicates a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline
Plan to share: No
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Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine