Music therapy with a monochord in multiple sclerosis ("MUTIMS"): A randomized, controlled, rater-blinded trial

Mood-behavioral symptoms, fatigue and pain are frequent among people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Music therapy (MT) is a non-pharmacological option for symptomatic treatment in neurological diseases.

To assess effects of 6-week-outpatient MT on anxiety (primary outcome) as well as: depression, fatigue, pain and body perception (secondary outcomes) in pwMS.

We randomized pwMS 1:1 to music therapy group (MTG) and control group (CG). Both had one 45-min session per week, MTG with a monochord, CG without music. A blinded rater assessed endpoints at baseline and week 6 with standardized questionnaires (e.g. hospital anxiety and depression scale, HADS) and quantitative sensory testing (QST). Immediate session effects were also assessed. The analysis included linear mixed models, adjusted for pwMS's characteristics and baseline scores.

Fifty-seven pwMS (age: 50.1 ± 12.4 years, 47 women, MTG: n = 30, CG: n = 27) were included. In MTG, anxiety levels (HADS) did not differ from CG at week 6 (p = 0.109). Among secondary outcomes, psychosocial fatigue was reduced (p = 0.029), QST heat pain thresholds were higher (p = 0.024) and immediate subjective effects stronger in MTG (e.g. feeling balanced: p < 0.001, relaxed: p < 0.001, less pain: p < 0.001).

Despite no difference in anxiety, we observed effects of receptive MT on fatigue, pain and body perception.