Choral Singing for Patients With Parkinson's

NCT ID: NCT05379062

Last Updated: 2022-05-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 90 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-05-31
• Study Completion Date: 2023-09-30

Brief Summary

Study Design: Multi-centered, open, prospective, three-arm, randomized, controlled parallel-group study;

Study Participants: Adult patients with Parkinson's disease in Salzburg (and surroundings) and Vienna (and surroundings);

Planned Sample Size: Experimental Group 1 (singing in a group/active): 30 persons; Experimental group 2 (receptive music/auditive): 30 persons; Control group (treatment as usual condition): 30 persons;

Planned Duration of Study: Recruitment: spring 2022, study duration: spring 2022 to autumn 2022, evaluation phase and publication: autumn-summer 2022/2023;

Primary Objectives: Reduction of depression, anxiety and physiological stress; Measurement of the Endpoints: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - German Version (HADS-D), Biochemical determination: cortisol and alpha-amylase (concentration measurement in saliva).

Detailed Description

Parkinson's disease is predominantly a disease of old age. A total of about 16,000 patients suffer from Parkinson's disease in Austria. This corresponds to about 0.1% of the population over 50 years of age. In addition to motor and language deficits, psychological deficits also occur. These are usually found between the ages of 50 and 60. The lack of dopamine is the main basis of modern Parkinson therapy. The physiological part of Parkinson's disease can today be well-controlled with medication. Significantly better results can only be achieved with accompanying music-related interventions. For example, regular group singing under professional guidance seems advantageous. The music-induced, rhythmic movement associated with singing, the active posture, the more differentiated strain on the vocal apparatus and breathing compared to speaking, and last but not least, the predominantly positive affectivity show that singing is a complex, ecologically valid form of interpersonal interaction that is also effective on a psychosocial level. In short, many of the therapeutic goals relevant to people with Parkinson's disease are likely to be better achieved through this group activity. Singing together stimulates numerous physical systems as well as perception, attention and cognition. Synchronised movements have also been associated in various studies with increased pain tolerance and may be beneficial in maintaining motor performance in people with Parkinson's disease. Singing improves the immune defence of many patients according to further systematic observations. The results show clear improvements in various health indicators, also in a sustainable course. In addition, regular listening to specifically selected stimulating music, as compiled on a new CD (ISBN: 978-3-9502441-2-0) produced by the project submitter's research group, leads to increased blood flow to certain brain areas. Among other things, dopamine is released. In case of sudden blockages, the pointed rhythm of the Radetzky March, recorded on the CD, helps in a rapid way that could not be achieved with any medication in such a short time.

The aim of this randomized study is to investigate the effect of group singing on the improvement of symptoms of Parkinson's disease, depression, anxiety and stress. Furthermore, the quality of life and the course of parkinson's disease will be assessed. It must also be clarified how often choral singing can be rehearsed in a meaningful way before a weakening (tolerance) of the effect occurs and how high the patients' compliance is. To objectify this study, three groups will be randomly assigned: group one receives the group singing intervention, group two the music listening intervention and group three as a control group (treatment as usual group) receives no musical activity.

The results of the present study should be offered to the rehabilitation centres for support of Parkinson patients.

Conditions

Parkinson

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Active Singing Group

Active singing in a group

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Active Singing Group

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The participants of the Active Singing Group take part in a weekly 45-minute singing activity in a group over a period of 3 months. In total the investigators expect 12 choir rehearsals. The rehearsals will take place between 2pm and 3.30pm in the church of the Wehrle-Diakonissen Private Clinic in Salzburg. The group will be led by a professional and experienced choir director.

Receptive Music Group

Receptive music/auditive group

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Receptive Music Group

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The participants of the Receptive Music Group will individually listen to the already researched CD for Parkinson's patients (Bernatzky, Wendtner, Volc, 2012) at home at the same time on one weekday.

Control Group

Treatment as usual

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Active Singing Group

The participants of the Active Singing Group take part in a weekly 45-minute singing activity in a group over a period of 3 months. In total the investigators expect 12 choir rehearsals. The rehearsals will take place between 2pm and 3.30pm in the church of the Wehrle-Diakonissen Private Clinic in Salzburg. The group will be led by a professional and experienced choir director.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Receptive Music Group

The participants of the Receptive Music Group will individually listen to the already researched CD for Parkinson's patients (Bernatzky, Wendtner, Volc, 2012) at home at the same time on one weekday.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Adults with Parkinson's disease 1-4 according to Hoehn-Yahr Scale
• Signed consent to participate in the study
• Age >18

Exclusion Criteria

• Morbus Parkinson 5 according to Hoehn-Yahr Scale
• Dementia
• Aversion to music (Amusia)
• Participation in other active music-based activities (e.g. choir singing, dancing, playing an instrument, making music, playing in an orchestra) during the study

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Vienna

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Confraternität Private Hospital

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Salzburg

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Katarzyna Grebosz-Haring

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Katarzyna Grebosz-Haring, Dr.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Focus Area Science and Art

Locations

University of Salzburg / University Mozarteum Salzburg

Salzburg, , Austria

University of Salzburg

Salzburg, , Austria

Countries

Austria

Central Contacts

Katarzyna Grebosz-Haring, Dr.

Role: CONTACT

katarzyna.grebosz-haring@plus.ac.at

+4380442370

Günther Bernatzky, Univ. Prof.

Role: CONTACT

guenther.bernatzky@plus.ac.at

+43 664 44-21237

Facility Contacts

Katarzyna Grebosz-Haring, Dr.

Role: primary

katarzyna.grebosz-haring@plus.ac.at

+4366280442370 ext. +4366280442370

Günther Bernatzky

Role: primary

guenther.bernatzky@plus.ac.at

+436644421237 ext. +436644421237

References

Likar R, Bernatzky G. [Improvement of pain therapy in Austria]. Schmerz. 2007 Jun;21(3):277. doi: 10.1007/s00482-007-0555-2. No abstract available. German.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 17632876 (View on PubMed)

Bernatzky G, Bernatzky P, Hesse HP, Staffen W, Ladurner G. Stimulating music increases motor coordination in patients afflicted with Morbus Parkinson. Neurosci Lett. 2004 May 6;361(1-3):4-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2003.12.022.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 15135879 (View on PubMed)

Grebosz-Haring K, Schuchter-Wiegand AK, Feneberg AC, Skoluda N, Nater UM, Schutz S, Thun-Hohenstein L. The Psychological and Biological Impact of "In-Person" vs. "Virtual" Choir Singing in Children and Adolescents: A Pilot Study Before and After the Acute Phase of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Austria. Front Psychol. 2022 Jan 4;12:773227. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.773227. eCollection 2021.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 35058843 (View on PubMed)

Grebosz-Haring K, Thun-Hohenstein L. Effects of group singing versus group music listening on hospitalized children and adolescents with mental disorders: A pilot study. Heliyon. 2018 Dec 17;4(12):e01014. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e01014. eCollection 2018 Dec.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 30582039 (View on PubMed)

Grebosz-Haring K, Thun-Hohenstein L, Schuchter-Wiegand AK, Irons Y, Bathke A, Phillips K, Clift S. The Need for Robust Critique of Arts and Health Research: Young People, Art Therapy and Mental Health. Front Psychol. 2022 Feb 10;13:821093. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.821093. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 35222203 (View on PubMed)

Panksepp J, Bernatzky G. Emotional sounds and the brain: the neuro-affective foundations of musical appreciation. Behav Processes. 2002 Nov;60(2):133-155. doi: 10.1016/s0376-6357(02)00080-3.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 12426066 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

1_1: 2020-06-08

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id