Music therapy, neural processing, and craving reduction: an RCT protocol for a mixed methods feasibility study in a Community Substance Misuse Treatment Service

Jörg Fachner
Clemens Maidhof
Daniel Murtagh
Devon De Silva
Filippo Pasqualitto
Paul Fernie
Francesca Panin
Andrew Michell
Leonardo Muller-Rodriguez
Helen Odell-Miller

Abstract

Music therapy has been shown to be effective for multiple clinical endpoints associated with substance use disorder such as craving reduction, emotion regulation, depression, and anxiety, but there are a lack of studies investigating those effects in UK Community Substance Misuse Treatment Services (CSMTSs). Furthermore, there is a demand for identifying music therapy mechanisms of change and related brain processes for substance use disorder treatment. The present study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of music therapy and a pre-test, post-test, and in-session measurement battery in a CSMTS.