Parkinson’s disease: a voice, singing and music study

Acoustic, respiratory, cognitive and wellbeing comparisons of two groups of people with Parkinson’s disease receiving voice and choral singing group therapy or music appreciation activity

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12616000367448

Acronym

VCSTRCT Voice Choral Singing Therapy Random Control Trial

Enrollment

Registered

2016-03-22

Start date

2016-09-16

Completion date

2016-09-23

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

There is an abundance of research on group singing and the benefit in relation to participants’ physical/psychological well-being and QoL in the non-Parkinson's disease (PD) population. There are very few studies researching a relationship between factors of anxiety, depression, wellbeing, voice and group singing with people with PD described. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether singing activities improve or maintain voice and well being in people with PD. Participants will be randomly assigned to participate in one of the following two activities for an hour and a half over 9 continuous weeks: 1) Voice and choral singing Therapy 2) music appreciation (control). We hypothesize that group singing and respiratory exercise will improve voice and and facilitate social interaction, boost psychological wellbeing and enhance therapeutic outcomes among people with PD more so than those in the music appreciation (control group). If group voice and choral singing therapy activities are effective and successful they could provide the possibility of an easily implemented, relatively inexpensive, enjoyable therapy.

Interventions

Voice and Choral Singing Group Therapy. Group sessions will be led by an experienced clinician Speech Language Therapist and musician. Activities will consist of respiratory, phonatory, oro-motor and relaxation exercise and singing a selection of songs. The group sessions will take place once a week for one and a half hours weekly over 9 continuous weeks. Adherence will be monitored using a register of attendance at each session.

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Treatment

Masking

Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

30 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

All participants will have idiopathic Parkinson’s disease diagnosed by a Consultant Neurologist and will not have any other neurological disorder other than PD. Participants will have no singing or VCST in the previous 12 months before the study treatment period.

Exclusion criteria

Significant psychiatric history (e.g., Schizophrenia, Bipolar affective disorder), Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, Intellectual disability, known significant cerebral infarct (Stroke), Significant neurological condition (e.g., epilepsy, intracerebral tumor), blind or deaf, Significant alcohol / substance abuse / dependence.

Outcome results