AnxietyEAST-MUSICNCT07359950
Film-Based Music Therapy With AI-Generated Verbal Guidance for Anxiety in Young Adults
A study testing Music Listening With AI-Generated Eastern Imagery Verbal Guidance, Music Listening With Standard Verbal Guidance and Music-Only Relaxation in people with Anxiety and Psychological Stress, run by Wen Li at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This study aims to examine whether music-based relaxation combined with different types of verbal guidance can help reduce anxiety and improve emotional well-being in young adults. University students often experience high levels of stress related to academic demands and daily life. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Anxiety, Psychological Stress, Emotional Regulation
- What is being tested?
- Music Listening With AI-Generated Eastern Imagery Verbal Guidance, Music Listening With Standard Verbal Guidance and Music-Only Relaxation
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 123 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2025to 30 Jan 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18 and 25 years at the time of enrollment.
- Currently enrolled as a university student.
- Able to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.
- Willing to participate in a single music listening session lasting approximately 25-30 minutes.
- Able to complete self-report questionnaires before and after the intervention.
Who cannot join
- Self-reported history of diagnosed psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders).
- Current use of psychotropic medications that may significantly affect mood or anxiety.
- Self-reported hearing impairment that could interfere with music listening.
- Self-reported cardiovascular conditions or other medical conditions that could affect heart rate measurements.
- Participation in other psychological or behavioral intervention studies within the past 30 days.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Film-Based Music Therapy With LLM-Generated Culturally Adapted Verbal Suggestions on Anxiety, Affect, and Heart Rate Among Chinese Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study aims to examine whether music-based relaxation combined with different types of verbal guidance can help reduce anxiety and improve emotional well-being in young adults.
University students often experience high levels of stress related to academic demands and daily life. Music listening is commonly used as a simple and safe method to promote relaxation. In addition to music itself, verbal guidance during music listening may influence how individuals imagine, interpret, and emotionally respond to the music experience.
Read more
In this study, participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group listens to music accompanied by verbal guidance generated by a large language model and designed to reflect Eastern aesthetic imagery. A second group listens to music with standard relaxation guidance commonly used in music therapy. A third group listens to relaxing music without any verbal guidance. Each participant takes part in a single music listening session lasting approximately 25-30 minutes.
Levels of anxiety, positive and negative emotions, and heart rate are measured before and after the music session. By comparing the results across the three groups, this study seeks to better understand whether culturally adapted verbal guidance can enhance the effects of music-based relaxation for young adults.
Read the detailed description
This study is a single-center, randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the effects of music-based interventions with different types of verbal guidance on anxiety and emotional regulation in young adults.
Eligible university students are recruited and randomly assigned in equal numbers to one of three parallel groups: (1) a music intervention with verbal guidance generated by a large language model and designed to evoke Eastern aesthetic imagery; (2) a standard music therapy condition that includes conventional relaxation-oriented verbal suggestions; and (3) a music-only relaxation condition without verbal guidance. Randomization is conducted using a simple random allocation procedure.
All participants complete baseline assessments prior to the intervention. Each participant then takes part in a single music listening session lasting approximately 25-30 minutes in a quiet classroom setting. During the session, participants are seated comfortably with eyes closed and instructed to listen attentively to the music. Verbal guidance, when present, is delivered by a researcher during the music session.
Primary and secondary outcomes are assessed immediately before and after the intervention. Anxiety is measured using a standardized self-report anxiety scale. Emotional states are assessed using validated measures of positive and negative affect. Heart rate is recorded as an objective physiological indicator of autonomic arousal using a smartphone-based photoplethysmography method.
This study aims to provide empirical evidence on whether culturally adapted verbal guidance, generated by artificial intelligence, can enhance the psychological and physiological effects of music-based relaxation in young adults.
- Conditions
- Anxiety, Psychological Stress, Emotional Regulation
- Being tested
- Music Listening With AI-Generated Eastern Imagery Verbal Guidance, Music Listening With Standard Verbal Guidance, Music-Only Relaxation
- Keywords
- Music therapy, Verbal suggestions, Artificial intelligence, Large language models, Cultural adaptation, Eastern aesthetic imagery, University students, Heart rate variability
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders, Stress, Psychological, Emotional Regulation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Music Listening With AI-Generated Eastern Imagery Verbal GuidanceBehavioural
Participants listen to a curated music program accompanied by verbal guidance generated by a large language model. The verbal guidance is designed to evoke Eastern aesthetic imagery and is delivered by a researcher during a single 25-30 minute music listening session in a quiet setting.
Music Listening With Standard Verbal GuidanceBehavioural
Participants listen to music accompanied by standard relaxation-oriented verbal guidance commonly used in music therapy practice. The guidance is delivered during a single 25-30 minute music listening session in a quiet setting.
Music-Only RelaxationBehavioural
Participants listen to relaxing music without any verbal guidance during a single 25-30 minute session in a quiet setting.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Imagery Music Therapy Group | Experimental | Participants assigned to this arm listen to a curated music program accompanied by verbal guidance generated by a large language model. The verbal guidance is designed to evoke Eastern aesthetic imagery and is delivered during a single 25-30 minute music listening session. Receives: Behavioral: Music Listening With AI-Generated Eastern Imagery Verbal Guidance |
| Standard Music Therapy Group | Active comparator | Participants assigned to this arm listen to music accompanied by standard relaxation-oriented verbal guidance commonly used in music therapy practice. The intervention is delivered during a single 25-30 minute music listening session. Receives: Behavioral: Music Listening With Standard Verbal Guidance |
| Music-Only Relaxation Group | Active comparator | Participants assigned to this arm listen to relaxing music without any verbal guidance during a single 25-30 minute session. Receives: Behavioral: Music-Only Relaxation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in State Anxiety Score
State anxiety is assessed using the State subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), a validated self-report questionnaire consisting of 20 items. Scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater state anxiety. The primary outcome is the change in STAI-S score from before to immediately after the intervention.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after the single 25-30 minute music listening session
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change in Positive Affect Score
Positive affect is measured using the Positive Affect subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The subscale consists of 10 items assessing positive emotional states, with higher scores indicating greater positive affect. The outcome is defined as the change in positive affect score from before to immediately after the intervention.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after the single 25-30 minute music listening session
Change in Negative Affect Score
Negative affect is measured using the Negative Affect subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The subscale consists of 10 items assessing negative emotional states, with higher scores indicating greater negative affect. The outcome is defined as the change in negative affect score from before to immediately after the intervention.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after the single 25-30 minute music listening session
Change in Heart Rate
Heart rate is recorded as an objective physiological indicator of autonomic arousal using a smartphone-based photoplethysmography method. The outcome is defined as the change in mean heart rate measured immediately before and immediately after the intervention.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after the single 25-30 minute music listening session
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Jan 2026
- Study start1 Oct 2025
- Primary completion30 Jan 2026
- Study completion30 Jan 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Model description
- Participants are randomly assigned to one of three parallel groups and receive a single music-based intervention according to group assignment.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 123 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Wen Li
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Wen Li, Universiti Sains Malaysia
- Investigators
- Wen Li, PhD, Principal investigator, Aba Teachers College
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07359950
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- USM-JEPeM-22120811
- Other IDs
- USM/JEPeM/22120811
- Acronym
- EAST-MUSIC
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 12 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Li W, Wang G, Manoharan P, Cui X, Dai L, Huang L. Integrating large language model-generated culturally adapted verbal suggestions into music therapy for university students: A pilot randomized exploratory study. PLoS One. 2026 Oct 9;21(10):e0360478. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0360478. eCollection 2026.
PubMed 42853827
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Film-Based Music Therapy With LLM-Generated Culturally Adapted Verbal Suggestions on Anxiety, Affect, and Heart Rate Among Chinese Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07359950
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EAST-MUSIC / USM-JEPeM-22120811
- Conditions
- Anxiety, Psychological Stress, Emotional Regulation
- Keywords
- Music therapy, Verbal suggestions, Artificial intelligence, Large language models, Cultural adaptation, Eastern aesthetic imagery, University students, Heart rate variability
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 123 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Wen LiUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jan 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Jan 2026 (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 examine whether music-based relaxation combined with different types of verbal guidance can help reduce anxiety and improve emotional well-being in young adults.
University students often experience high levels of stress related to academic demands and daily life. Music listening is commonly used as a simple and safe method to promote relaxation. In addition to music itself, verbal guidance during music listening may influence how individuals imagine, interpret, and emotionally respond to the music experience.
In this study, participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group listens to music accompanied by verbal guidance generated by a large language model and designed to reflect Eastern aesthetic imagery. A second group listens to music with standard relaxation guidance commonly used in music therapy. A third group listens to relaxing music without any verbal guidance. Each participant takes part in a single music listening session lasting approximately 25-30 minutes.
Levels of anxiety, positive and negative emotions, and heart rate are measured before and after the music session. By comparing the results across the three groups, this study seeks to better understand whether culturally adapted verbal guidance can enhance the effects of music-based relaxation for young adults.
Detailed description
This study is a single-center, randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the effects of music-based interventions with different types of verbal guidance on anxiety and emotional regulation in young adults.
Eligible university students are recruited and randomly assigned in equal numbers to one of three parallel groups: (1) a music intervention with verbal guidance generated by a large language model and designed to evoke Eastern aesthetic imagery; (2) a standard music therapy condition that includes conventional relaxation-oriented verbal suggestions; and (3) a music-only relaxation condition without verbal guidance. Randomization is conducted using a simple random allocation procedure.
All participants complete baseline assessments prior to the intervention. Each participant then takes part in a single music listening session lasting approximately 25-30 minutes in a quiet classroom setting. During the session, participants are seated comfortably with eyes closed and instructed to listen attentively to the music. Verbal guidance, when present, is delivered by a researcher during the music session.
Primary and secondary outcomes are assessed immediately before and after the intervention. Anxiety is measured using a standardized self-report anxiety scale. Emotional states are assessed using validated measures of positive and negative affect. Heart rate is recorded as an objective physiological indicator of autonomic arousal using a smartphone-based photoplethysmography method.
This study aims to provide empirical evidence on whether culturally adapted verbal guidance, generated by artificial intelligence, can enhance the psychological and physiological effects of music-based relaxation in young adults.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Participants are randomly assigned to one of three parallel groups and receive a single music-based intervention according to group assignment.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Imagery Music Therapy Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Music Listening With AI-Generated Eastern Imagery Verbal GuidanceParticipants assigned to this arm listen to a curated music program accompanied by verbal guidance generated by a large language model. The verbal guidance is designed to evoke Eastern aesthetic imagery and is delivered during a single 25-30 minute music listening session. |
| Standard Music Therapy Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Music Listening With Standard Verbal GuidanceParticipants assigned to this arm listen to music accompanied by standard relaxation-oriented verbal guidance commonly used in music therapy practice. The intervention is delivered during a single 25-30 minute music listening session. |
| Music-Only Relaxation Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Music-Only RelaxationParticipants assigned to this arm listen to relaxing music without any verbal guidance during a single 25-30 minute session. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age between 18 and 25 years at the time of enrollment.
- Currently enrolled as a university student.
- Able to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.
- Willing to participate in a single music listening session lasting approximately 25-30 minutes.
- Able to complete self-report questionnaires before and after the intervention.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Self-reported history of diagnosed psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders).
- Current use of psychotropic medications that may significantly affect mood or anxiety.
- Self-reported hearing impairment that could interfere with music listening.
- Self-reported cardiovascular conditions or other medical conditions that could affect heart rate measurements.
- Participation in other psychological or behavioral intervention studies within the past 30 days.
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 Listening With AI-Generated Eastern Imagery Verbal GuidanceParticipants listen to a curated music program accompanied by verbal guidance generated by a large language model. The verbal guidance is designed to evoke Eastern aesthetic imagery and is delivered by a researcher during a single 25-30 minute music listening session in a quiet setting. | Behavioural | Eastern Imagery Music Therapy Group |
| Music Listening With Standard Verbal GuidanceParticipants listen to music accompanied by standard relaxation-oriented verbal guidance commonly used in music therapy practice. The guidance is delivered during a single 25-30 minute music listening session in a quiet setting. | Behavioural | Standard Music Therapy Group |
| Music-Only RelaxationParticipants listen to relaxing music without any verbal guidance during a single 25-30 minute session in a quiet setting. | Behavioural | Music-Only Relaxation Group |
Primary outcome
Change in State Anxiety Score
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the single 25-30 minute music listening session
State anxiety is assessed using the State subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), a validated self-report questionnaire consisting of 20 items. Scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater state anxiety. The primary outcome is the change in STAI-S score from before to immediately after the intervention.
3 secondary outcomes
Change in Positive Affect Score
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the single 25-30 minute music listening session
Change in Negative Affect Score
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the single 25-30 minute music listening session
Change in Heart Rate
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the single 25-30 minute music listening session
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 Feb 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42853827Li W, Wang G, Manoharan P, Cui X, Dai L, Huang L. Integrating large language model-generated culturally adapted verbal suggestions into music therapy for university students: A pilot randomized exploratory study. PLoS One. 2026 Oct 9;21(10):e0360478. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0360478. eCollection 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Wen Li, PhD principal investigator
Aba Teachers College
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Music Listening With AI-Generated Eastern Imagery Verbal Guidance, Music Listening With Standard Verbal Guidance and Music-Only Relaxation in people with Anxiety and Psychological Stress, run by Wen Li at 1 site in China.
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 5 inclusion and 5 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in State Anxiety Score (time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the single 25-30 minute music listening session). 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 NCT07359950, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 12 Feb 2026.