Chronic PainNCT07252648
Music Therapy to Reduce Anxiety and Pain in Chronic Pain Patients During Procedures
A study testing Music Therapy in people with Chronic Pain and Anxiety, run by Singapore General Hospital.
Trial summary
This study aims to find out whether listening to music before, during, and after pain procedures can help reduce anxiety, pain catastrophising, and acute pain in patients with chronic pain. Music therapy may provide a simple, safe, and non-drug way to help patients relax and feel more comfortable. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Pain, Anxiety, Music Therapy
- What is being tested?
- Music Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 110 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 30 Mar 2026to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 21 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- aged ≥21years
- chronic pain ≥3 months
- scheduled for interventional pain procedures
Who cannot join
- presence of hearing impairment
- lack of capacity to consent
- non-interventional pain procedures, e.g. lignocaine infusion, ketamine infusion
- pregnant women
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Effect of Peri-Operative Music Therapy on Anxiety, Pain Catastrophising, and Pain in Chronic Pain Patients Undergoing Interventional Pain Procedures - A Randomised Controlled Trial
This study aims to find out whether listening to music before, during, and after pain procedures can help reduce anxiety, pain catastrophising, and acute pain in patients with chronic pain. Music therapy may provide a simple, safe, and non-drug way to help patients relax and feel more comfortable.
In this study, adult patients with chronic pain who are scheduled for interventional pain procedures at Singapore General Hospital will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will listen to self-selected music through headphones and speakers before, during, and after the procedure. The other group will receive standard care without music.
Read more
Researchers will measure anxiety, pain catastrophising, and pain levels before and after the procedure using validated questionnaires. The main outcome will be the level of anxiety after the procedure. Other outcomes include pain catastrophising scores, pain scores during local anaesthetic injection, and overall patient satisfaction.
This study will help determine if music therapy can be routinely used to improve comfort and emotional well-being for patients undergoing interventional pain procedures.
Read the detailed description
This is a single-centre, randomised controlled trial conducted at the Singapore General Hospital Pain Management Centre. The study investigates whether peri-operative music therapy can reduce anxiety, pain catastrophising, and pain in patients with chronic pain undergoing interventional pain procedures in the ambulatory setting.
A total of 110 adult participants (aged 21 years and above) with chronic pain lasting at least 3 months and scheduled for interventional pain procedures will be enrolled. Participants will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either the music therapy group or the control group using a computer-generated block randomisation sequence with sealed opaque envelopes.
Intervention group: Participants will listen to self-selected music from curated playlists (including soothing, meditative, multilingual, and instrumental tracks) before, during, and after the procedure. Music will be played for 30 minutes pre-procedure via headphones, continued intra-procedurally via Bluetooth speaker to maintain communication, and resumed for 30 minutes post-procedure via headphones.
Control group: Participants will receive standard peri-procedural care without music exposure.
Due to the nature of the intervention, blinding of participants and proceduralists is not feasible. However, outcome assessors and statisticians will remain blinded to group allocation.
The primary endpoint is postoperative anxiety measured using the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A). Secondary endpoints include pain catastrophising scores (Pain Catastrophising Scale, PCS), procedural pain (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS), and patient satisfaction scores.
Data will be collected pre-procedure and immediately post-procedure. Baseline demographics, analgesic/sedative use, and intra-procedural variables (e.g., duration, complications, and rescue medication use) will also be recorded. Statistical analysis will compare mean differences between groups using independent t-tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables, with significance set at p < 0.05.
The study is classified as minimal risk, involving a non-invasive behavioural intervention. No Data Monitoring Committee has been appointed. Oversight will be provided by the Principal Investigator and study mentor, with periodic internal data reviews.
This trial aims to provide evidence for a simple, low-cost, and patient-centred intervention that could enhance peri-procedural comfort and reduce psychological distress in chronic pain patients undergoing day surgery procedures.
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain, Anxiety, Music Therapy, Pain Perception, Pain Catastrophizing
- Being tested
- Music Therapy
- Keywords
- Pain Catastrophizing, Music Therapy, Anxiety, Chronic Pain
- Medical subject headings
- Chronic Pain, Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Music TherapyBehavioural
This intervention consists of perioperative music therapy for patients with chronic pain undergoing interventional pain procedures in the ambulatory setting. Participants in the intervention group will listen to self-selected music for approximately 30 minutes before, during the procedure, and 30 minutes after their procedure. Music will be delivered via headphones pre- and post-procedure and via a Bluetooth speaker during the procedure to facilitate communication with the procedural team.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Music Therapy | Experimental | Participants will listen to self-selected music before, during, and after the interventional pain procedure via headphones. Bluetooth speakers will be used during the procedure to facilitate communication with the healthcare team. Receives: Behavioral: Music Therapy |
| Standard Care | No intervention | Participants will receive routine peri-procedural care without music therapy. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Postoperative Anxiety (Visual Analogue Scale)
Postoperative anxiety will be assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety, a 10-cm scale ranging from 0 (not anxious at all) to 10 (extremely anxious).
Measured: Scores will be recorded before the procedure (baseline) and post-procedure within 30 minutes.
Secondary outcomes (4)
Pain Catastrophising Score
Pain catastrophising will be assessed using the Pain Catastrophising Scale, which measures rumination, magnification, and helplessness related to pain. Each item is rated from 0 (not at all) to 4 (all the time), with total scores ranging from 0 to 52.
Measured: This will be measured before the procedure (baseline) and post-procedure within 30 minutes.
Postoperative Anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Short Form)
State anxiety will be measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - Short Form (STAI-SF), a validated questionnaire assessing transient anxiety related to specific situations. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale, and total scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety.
Measured: This will be measured at baseline (pre-procedure) and post-procedure (within 30 minutes of completion).
Postoperative Pain Score
Pain intensity will be assessed using an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale, where 0 = "no pain" and 10 = "worst pain imaginable."
Measured: Participants will rate their pain after the procedure in the recovery area (within 30 minutes).
Patient Satisfaction
Patient satisfaction will be assessed after the procedure using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Very satisfied, 2 = Satisfied, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Dissatisfied, 5 = Very dissatisfied). Participants in both groups will rate their overall satisfaction with their perioperative experience.
Measured: Within 30 minutes of the procedure.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Nov 2025
- Study start30 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Chronic PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Singapore General HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 110 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Singapore General Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- David Y Chee, MBBS, Principal investigator, Singapore General Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07252648
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025-1781
- Status last verified
- Oct 2025
- First submitted
- 18 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 29 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Li G, Yu L, Yang Y, Deng J, Shao L, Zeng C. Effects of Perioperative Music Therapy on Patients with Postoperative Pain and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Integr Complement Med. 2024 Jan;30(1):37-46. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2022.0803. Epub 2023 Aug 30.
PubMed 37646752Goel SK, Kim V, Kearns J, Sabo D, Zoeller L, Conboy C, Kelm N, Jackovich AE, Chelly JE. Music-Based Therapy for the Treatment of Perioperative Anxiety and Pain-A Randomized, Prospective Clinical Trial. J Clin Med. 2024 Oct 15;13(20):6139. doi: 10.3390/jcm13206139.
PubMed 39458090Kakde A, Lim MJ, Shen H, Tan HS, Tan CW, Sultana R, Sng BL. Effect of music listening on perioperative anxiety, acute pain and pain catastrophizing in women undergoing elective cesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Anesthesiol. 2023 Apr 3;23(1):109. doi: 10.1186/s12871-023-02060-w.
PubMed 37013499
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Peri-Operative Music Therapy on Anxiety, Pain Catastrophising, and Pain in Chronic Pain Patients Undergoing Interventional Pain Procedures - A Randomised Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07252648
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2025-1781
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain, Anxiety, Music Therapy, Pain Perception, Pain Catastrophizing
- Keywords
- Pain Catastrophizing, Music Therapy, Anxiety, Chronic Pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 110 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Singapore General HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 28 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to find out whether listening to music before, during, and after pain procedures can help reduce anxiety, pain catastrophising, and acute pain in patients with chronic pain. Music therapy may provide a simple, safe, and non-drug way to help patients relax and feel more comfortable.
In this study, adult patients with chronic pain who are scheduled for interventional pain procedures at Singapore General Hospital will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will listen to self-selected music through headphones and speakers before, during, and after the procedure. The other group will receive standard care without music.
Researchers will measure anxiety, pain catastrophising, and pain levels before and after the procedure using validated questionnaires. The main outcome will be the level of anxiety after the procedure. Other outcomes include pain catastrophising scores, pain scores during local anaesthetic injection, and overall patient satisfaction.
This study will help determine if music therapy can be routinely used to improve comfort and emotional well-being for patients undergoing interventional pain procedures.
Detailed description
This is a single-centre, randomised controlled trial conducted at the Singapore General Hospital Pain Management Centre. The study investigates whether peri-operative music therapy can reduce anxiety, pain catastrophising, and pain in patients with chronic pain undergoing interventional pain procedures in the ambulatory setting.
A total of 110 adult participants (aged 21 years and above) with chronic pain lasting at least 3 months and scheduled for interventional pain procedures will be enrolled. Participants will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either the music therapy group or the control group using a computer-generated block randomisation sequence with sealed opaque envelopes.
Intervention group: Participants will listen to self-selected music from curated playlists (including soothing, meditative, multilingual, and instrumental tracks) before, during, and after the procedure. Music will be played for 30 minutes pre-procedure via headphones, continued intra-procedurally via Bluetooth speaker to maintain communication, and resumed for 30 minutes post-procedure via headphones.
Control group: Participants will receive standard peri-procedural care without music exposure.
Due to the nature of the intervention, blinding of participants and proceduralists is not feasible. However, outcome assessors and statisticians will remain blinded to group allocation.
The primary endpoint is postoperative anxiety measured using the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A). Secondary endpoints include pain catastrophising scores (Pain Catastrophising Scale, PCS), procedural pain (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS), and patient satisfaction scores.
Data will be collected pre-procedure and immediately post-procedure. Baseline demographics, analgesic/sedative use, and intra-procedural variables (e.g., duration, complications, and rescue medication use) will also be recorded. Statistical analysis will compare mean differences between groups using independent t-tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables, with significance set at p < 0.05.
The study is classified as minimal risk, involving a non-invasive behavioural intervention. No Data Monitoring Committee has been appointed. Oversight will be provided by the Principal Investigator and study mentor, with periodic internal data reviews.
This trial aims to provide evidence for a simple, low-cost, and patient-centred intervention that could enhance peri-procedural comfort and reduce psychological distress in chronic pain patients undergoing day surgery procedures.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Music Therapy | Experimental | Behavioral: Music TherapyParticipants will listen to self-selected music before, during, and after the interventional pain procedure via headphones. Bluetooth speakers will be used during the procedure to facilitate communication with the healthcare team. |
| Standard Care | No intervention | –Participants will receive routine peri-procedural care without music therapy. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- aged ≥21years
- chronic pain ≥3 months
- scheduled for interventional pain procedures
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- presence of hearing impairment
- lack of capacity to consent
- non-interventional pain procedures, e.g. lignocaine infusion, ketamine infusion
- pregnant women
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Music TherapyThis intervention consists of perioperative music therapy for patients with chronic pain undergoing interventional pain procedures in the ambulatory setting. Participants in the intervention group will listen to self-selected music for approximately 30 minutes before, during the procedure, and 30 minutes after their procedure. Music will be delivered via headphones pre- and post-procedure and via a Bluetooth speaker during the procedure to facilitate communication with the procedural team. | Behavioural | Music Therapy |
Primary outcome
Postoperative Anxiety (Visual Analogue Scale)
Time frame: Scores will be recorded before the procedure (baseline) and post-procedure within 30 minutes.
Postoperative anxiety will be assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety, a 10-cm scale ranging from 0 (not anxious at all) to 10 (extremely anxious).
4 secondary outcomes
Pain Catastrophising Score
Time frame: This will be measured before the procedure (baseline) and post-procedure within 30 minutes.
Postoperative Anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Short Form)
Time frame: This will be measured at baseline (pre-procedure) and post-procedure (within 30 minutes of completion).
Postoperative Pain Score
Time frame: Participants will rate their pain after the procedure in the recovery area (within 30 minutes).
Patient Satisfaction
Time frame: Within 30 minutes of the procedure.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Apr 2026.
- Background: PubMed 37646752Li G, Yu L, Yang Y, Deng J, Shao L, Zeng C. Effects of Perioperative Music Therapy on Patients with Postoperative Pain and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Integr Complement Med. 2024 Jan;30(1):37-46. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2022.0803. Epub 2023 Aug 30.
- Background: PubMed 39458090Goel SK, Kim V, Kearns J, Sabo D, Zoeller L, Conboy C, Kelm N, Jackovich AE, Chelly JE. Music-Based Therapy for the Treatment of Perioperative Anxiety and Pain-A Randomized, Prospective Clinical Trial. J Clin Med. 2024 Oct 15;13(20):6139. doi: 10.3390/jcm13206139.
- Background: PubMed 37013499Kakde A, Lim MJ, Shen H, Tan HS, Tan CW, Sultana R, Sng BL. Effect of music listening on perioperative anxiety, acute pain and pain catastrophizing in women undergoing elective cesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Anesthesiol. 2023 Apr 3;23(1):109. doi: 10.1186/s12871-023-02060-w.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
David Y Chee, MBBS principal investigator
Singapore General Hospital
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Music Therapy in people with Chronic Pain and Anxiety, run by Singapore General Hospital.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact David Y Chee, MBBS (6562223322, david.chee.yiwei@singhealth.com.sg), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Postoperative Anxiety (Visual Analogue Scale) (time frame: Scores will be recorded before the procedure (baseline) and post-procedure within 30 minutes.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07252648, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Apr 2026.