NCT04493034

Assessing the Benefit of Art & Music Therapy on Quality of Life in Patients With Breast Cancer

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Benefit of Art & Music Therapy on Quality of Life in Patients With Breast Cancer

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 73 (actual)
• Sponsor: Case Comprehensive Cancer Center · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This is a study of art-based and music-based therapy programs lasting three months (with additional follow-up 3 months after the end of the trial) in breast cancer patients currently receiving therapy as well as in cancer survivors.

Detailed description

A cancer diagnosis is often associated with adverse psychosocial effects, including: increased stress and anxiety, fatigue and sleep disturbance, impaired memory and cognition, and poor quality of life. Chemotherapy can cause a cognitive decline in up to 75% of patients; an impairment that oftentimes persists beyond completion of the regimen. This is known as "chemobrain". Integrative therapies are actively being investigated to help improve psychological wellbeing among cancer patients and survivors. The current standard at this institution is to inform patients of different complementary services that are available, including art therapy, music therapy or acupuncture, but not require patients to use them. Participants in this study will be randomized to one of three arms 1) Art therapy program, 2) Music therapy program, or 3) Standard of care (SOC). In-person and at-home therapy sessions will be scheduled in alternating, weekly sessions, to allow one week of self-reflection and remote therapy between in-person sessions. Each participant will be asked to attend two in-person therapy sessions per month (total of 6). The primary objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of a 3-month, therapist-led art or music therapy program to improve quality of life in breast cancer patients currently receiving therapy and in cancer survivors. Secondary objectives of this study are: To determine the effect of these programs on patient cognition in this population. To determine the effect of these programs symptoms of anxiety and depression in this population. To assess whether the effect of these programs is sustained at a 3-month follow-up.

Conditions

• Breast Cancer

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Art Therapy	The art therapist will assist each participant in producing a bound collection of participant art works/writings for personal, group and/or caregiver inspiration, at the participant's request. For in-person sessions, a variety of studio-based art and writing materials will be available for participant selection and creation. Each session will be directed in the following manner: * New therapeutic prompt or bridge from prior session * Creative expression, opportunity for reflection, verbal sharing / processing, and a session summary * Discussion of action plan for the next consecutive, at-home session (weekly assignment). Possible wellness themes for each session (in-person or at-home) may include: mental health, physical health, emotional health, spiritual health, relational health (family and social), or occupational health/financial health.
BEHAVIORAL	Music Therapy	Participants have the opportunity to engage in: learning an instrument, active music-making, receptive music-listening, singing, improvisation, song-writing, education on music technology, or music discussion. During in-person musical sessions the six psychosocial goals promoted by the music therapist include: 1) self-care/self-love, 2) support systems, 3) practicing positivity 4) gratitude 5) mindfulness/living in the moment, and 6) goal-setting. For at-home assignments, participants will be asked to pick a song of the week that coincides with the theme/goal discussed in previous session(s). They will be asked to write a journal entry about the topic discussed. Journal entries can be freely written or a prompt/question can be provided. If participants do not have access to search for songs or listen to music as at home, they may select a piece from the session and be given lyrics and/or a recording on an .mp3 player returned at conclusion of study.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-04-21
• Primary completion: 2024-01-22
• Completion: 2024-01-22
• First posted: 2020-07-30
• Last updated: 2024-12-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States