1. Improvement of generalized anxiety disorder in office workers by integrating piano soothing music with cognitive behavioral therapy

Abstract Background With the acceleration of the pace of modern society, the working pressure faced by office workers is increasing, and the incidence rate of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is also rising. Generalized anxiety disorder is a common psychological disorder characterized by persistent, excessive worry and tension, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, and tremors. Piano music therapy can improve emotional states through the coordination of rhythm and melody, and alleviate anxiety symptoms by changing individuals' cognitive patterns and behavioral habits. Therefore, this study explores the therapeutic effect of piano soothing music combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy on GAD in office workers. The purpose of the study is to improve the management experience of generalized anxiety disorder and promote the mental health development of office workers. Methods The study used a randomized controlled trial method to evaluate the intervention effect of piano soothing music integrated cognitive-behavioral therapy on GAD in office workers. The study used 160 office workers diagnosed with GAD as experimental subjects, and randomly divided the participants into a cognitive-behavioral group and a fusion group, with 80 people in each group. The cognitive-behavioral group only received cognitive-behavioral therapy, while the fusion group received both piano soothing music and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Intervention once a week for 8 weeks. Before and after intervention, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to assess participants' anxiety levels. Results The experimental results showed that before intervention, the average HAM-A score of the cognitive-behavioral group was 19.2, while the average HAM-A score of the fusion group was 19.8, and the difference between the two groups was not significant (p> .05). After intervention, the average HAM-A score of the cognitive-behavioral group was 14.0, while the average HAM-A score of the fusion group was 11.9, with a significant difference between the two groups (p<.05). Meanwhile, the average BAI score of the cognitive-behavioral group before intervention was 18.3, and the average BAI score of the fusion group was 18.1, with no significant difference between the two groups (p>.05). After intervention, the average BAI score of the cognitive-behavioral group was 11.4, while the average BAI score of the fusion group was 9.5, with a significant difference between the two groups (p<.05). Experiments have shown that piano soothing music combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy has a more significant effect in the intervention treatment of GAD in office workers. Discussion The study analyzed the intervention effects of different intervention methods on GAD in office workers through controlled experiments. The results showed that after intervention, the HAM-A score and BAI score of the fusion group were lower than those of the cognitive-behavioral group. The results of the study support the effectiveness of combining piano soothing music with cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating GAD. Music may enhance the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy by regulating emotions and reducing physiological stress responses. At the same time, the diversity and flexibility of music therapy materials can be personalized while facing patient differences. In future research, the study will expand the materials and forms of music therapy methods, providing reference for the promotion and application of clinical practice.