Integrative Music Therapy for Depression-related Disorders (iMTDep) – study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Depression, anxiety and work-related stress affect a significant number of adults disrupting their productivity, ability to function and attend work. These highly comorbid disorders tend to be difficult to treat effectively, and more information about integrative treatment approaches is needed. This study investigates the effectiveness of music therapy in treating depression-related disorders. METHODS/DESIGN: The intervention is targeted at people of 18-65 years of age who are in employment, in their studies, temporarily unemployed, on short-term sick leave or rehabilitation allowance and suffer from depression-related disorders, which include one or several of the following: depression, anxiety, work-related stress or exhaustion. The interventions applied are Integrative Improvisational Music Therapy (IIMT) with or without the additional elements of music listening and vibroacoustic treatment. All sessions will begin with a preparative exercise called Resonance Frequency Breathing to enhance the effect of the therapy. All participants will receive the intervention for 6 weeks (60-min therapy session twice a week). The participants will be randomised into four groups that will have different modifications of the intervention, and the group without additional elements will serve as a waiting-list control group. The primary outcome will measure psychological distress. Secondary outcomes will address depression, anxiety, exhaustion, burnout, health-related quality of life and challenges in recognising emotions (alexithymia). DISCUSSION: The trial will elevate our understanding of the efficacy of integrative improvisational music therapy for depression-related disorders. Results will give more information about the combinations of additional elements used as part of the intervention. Extensive dataset will allow us to investigate the dynamics of therapeutic change and the factors that predict certain responsiveness to the intervention or explain the effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Prospectively registered on ISRCTN on 12.04.2024 (ISRCTN26812986). Study was approved by the Regional Medical Research Ethics Committee of Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland 15.02.2024 (ref: 7U/2023).