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Development and Evaluation of Individualized Music Therapy for Common Mental Disorders: Protocol for a Multistage
Chunfeng Xiao1, Jing Wei1, Tao Li1
1Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, Beijing, 100730, China, +86-(010)-69151490.
JMIR Research Protocols
|July 28, 2026
Summary
This study introduces individualized music therapy (IMT), an AI-driven approach for mental health. IMT shows promise in improving treatment for depression, anxiety, and insomnia by offering personalized, neuroscience-guided interventions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Artificial Intelligence
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Pharmacotherapy for mental disorders faces challenges with side effects and adherence.
- Music therapy is a potential nonpharmacological alternative but lacks accessibility and clear mechanisms.
- Individualized music therapy (IMT) aims to overcome these limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate an AI-enabled, neuroscience-guided individualized music therapy (IMT).
- To assess IMT's efficacy, safety, and neurobiological mechanisms in adults with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and primary insomnia.
Main Methods:
- A four-stage research program including pilot, cohort, and randomized clinical trials.
- Development of an AI pipeline to create personalized instrumental music based on user preferences.
- Comparison of IMT with non-individualized music therapy, measuring clinical outcomes and quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG).
Main Results:
- The study is ongoing, with recruitment starting May 2024 and completion expected by December 2027.
- Primary outcomes include treatment response rates and changes in qEEG characteristics at 8 weeks.
- Secondary outcomes involve changes in depression, anxiety, and sleep quality scores.
Conclusions:
- This research protocol establishes a framework to enhance music therapy effectiveness.
- Integrating generative AI and neurophysiological monitoring offers a scalable, precision-medicine approach to mental health care.
- The goal is to provide clinically effective and biologically grounded mental health treatments.