title: Music therapy as an adjunct to standard treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder and co-morbid anxiety and depression: A randomized clinical trial.
abstract: Previous studies have highlighted the potential therapeutic benefits of music therapy as an adjunct to standard care, in a variety of psychiatric ailments including mood and anxiety disorders. However, the role of music in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have not been investigated to date.
  
  
  
  In a single-center, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial (NCT02314195) 30 patients with OCD were randomly assigned to standard treatment (pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavior therapy) plus 12 sessions of individual music therapy (n = 15) or standard treatment only (n = 15) for one month. Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form were administered baseline and after one month.
  
  
  
  Thirty patients completed the study. Music therapy resulted in a greater decrease in total obsessive score (post-intervention score: music therapy+standard treatment: 12.4 ± 1.9 vs standard treatment only: 15.1 ± 1.7, p < 0.001, effect size = 56.7%). For subtypes, significant between-group differences were identified for checking (p = 0.004), and slowness (p = 0.019), but not for washing or responsibility. Music therapy was significantly more effective in reducing anxiety (post-intervention score: music therapy + standard treatment: 16.9 ± 7.4 vs standard treatment only: 22.9 ± 4.6, p < 0.001, effect size = 47.0%), and depressive symptoms (post-intervention score: music therapy + standard treatment: 10.8 ± 3.8 vs standard treatment: 17.1 ± 3.7, p < 0.001, effect size = 47.0%).
  
  
  
  Inclusion of a small sample size, lack of blinding due to the nature of the intervention, short duration of follow-up.
  
  
  
  In patients with OCD, music therapy, as an adjunct to standard care, seems to be effective in reducing obsessions, as well as co-morbid anxiety and depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht Branch, Marvdasht, Iran. Electronic address: shahrzadshirani@miau.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Shahrzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiranibidabadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Science, Institute for Research on Management and Planning, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: AmirMehryar36@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Amirhooshang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehryar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009147:Music Therapy; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
keywords: Anxiety disorders/therapy; Combined modality therapy; Music therapy/methods; Obsessive compulsive disorder; Randomized clinical trial; Treatment outcome