NCT06925867

A Frequency-Modulated Music Intervention to Enhance Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Ohio State University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the addition of frequency filtered music (Safe and Sound Protocol) to daily cognitive processing therapy improves effectiveness for reducing PTSD symptoms. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the addition of frequency filtered music reduce PTSD symptoms for patients receiving cognitive processing therapy for PTSD? * Does the addition of frequency filtered music to cognitive processing therapy improve stress physiology (arousal)? * Does improvement in physiological stress regulation help explain improvements in hyperarousal and PTSD symptoms? Researchers will compare the effects of a frequency filtered classical music playlist to an identical playlist without added filtering. Participants will be randomized to a music playlist. Participants will: * Receive 10 daily sessions of cognitive processing therapy * Listen to 15 minutes of music before their therapy sessions (2.5 hours music listening total). * Complete clinical interviews and questionnaires before, during, and up to 6 months after therapy. * Have their physiological arousal monitored during listening and therapy sessions * Wear a Fitbit device and complete smartphone surveys for 4 weeks

Conditions

• PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Frequency Filtered Music	The frequency filtered music intervention is 2.5 hours of classical music that has been filtered by applying an algorithm to alternate narrowing and expanding the range of acoustic frequencies over time, with the alternations intensifying in frequency range over the course of administration. The filtering is optimized for the frequency response of adult human hearing and intended to mimic the expression of the human voice around a central set of frequencies of 800-1200 Hz, the approximate resonant frequency of the human ear. The filtering method is similar to adjusting the treble and bass settings on a stereo system while music is playing; the melody and instruments can still be heard, but the highest and lowest pitches are modulated over time.
OTHER	Unfiltered Music	The unfiltered music intervention is 2.5 hours of classical music with. The playlist of pieces is identical to the filtered music condition.
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD	Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a cognitive therapy that focuses on why patients believe the traumatic event occurred, how that event affected their beliefs about self and others, and how to evaluate their beliefs. Patients then learn to label events, thoughts, and subsequent emotions while the therapist helps them examine the facts and context of the trauma through Socratic questioning. Using progressive worksheets, patients are taught to examine their own thoughts and emotions and develop new, more balanced thinking about traumatic events.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-01-10
• Primary completion: 2028-02-14
• Completion: 2028-02-14
• First posted: 2025-04-13
• Last updated: 2026-02-03

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States