Title | The effects of music & auditory beat stimulation on anxiety: A randomized clinical trial. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2022 |
Authors | Mallik A, Russo FA |
Journal | PLoS One |
Volume | 17 |
Issue | 3 |
Pagination | e0259312 |
Date Published | 2022 |
ISSN | 1932-6203 |
Keywords | Anxiety, Humans, Music, Music Therapy |
Abstract | BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Music and auditory beat stimulation (ABS) in the theta frequency range (4-7 Hz) are sound-based anxiety treatments that have been independently investigated in prior studies. Here, the anxiety-reducing potential of calm music combined with theta ABS was examined in a large sample of participants. METHODS: An open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted with participants taking anxiolytics (n = 163). Participants were randomly assigned using the Qualtrics randomizer algorithm, to a single session of sound-based treatment in one of four parallel arms: combined (music & ABS; n = 39), music-alone (n = 36), ABS-alone (n = 41), or pink noise (control; n = 47). Pre- and post-intervention somatic and cognitive state anxiety measures were collected along with trait anxiety, personality measures and musical preferences. The study was completed online using a custom application. RESULTS: Based on trait anxiety scores participants were separated into moderate and high trait anxiety sub-groups. Among participants with moderate trait anxiety, we observed reductions in somatic anxiety that were greater in combined and music-alone conditions than in the pink noise condition; and reductions in cognitive state anxiety that were greater in the combined condition than in the music-alone, ABS-alone, and pink noise conditions. While we also observed reductions in somatic and cognitive state anxiety in participants with high trait anxiety, the conditions were not well differentiated. CONCLUSIONS: Sound-based treatments are effective in reducing somatic and cognitive state anxiety. For participants with moderate trait anxiety, combined conditions were most efficacious. |
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0259312 |
Alternate Journal | PLoS One |
PubMed ID | 35263341 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC8906590 |