Abstract
Background
Cognitive deficits and low mood are common post-stroke. Music listening is
suggested to have beneficial effects on cognition, while mindfulness may
improve mood. Combining these approaches may enhance cognitive recovery and
improve mood early post-stroke.
Aims
To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a novel mindful music
listening intervention.
Methods
A parallel group randomized controlled feasibility trial with ischemic stroke
patients, comparing three groups; mindful music listening, music listening
and audiobook listening (control group), eight weeks intervention.
Feasibility was measured using adherence to protocol and questionnaires.
Cognition (including measures of verbal memory and attention) and mood
(Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were assessed at baseline, end of
intervention and at six-months post-stroke.
Results
Seventy-two participants were randomized to mindful music listening
(n = 23), music listening (n = 24), or
audiobook listening (n = 25). Feasibility and acceptability
measures were encouraging: 94% fully consistent with protocol; 68.1%
completing ≥6/8 treatment visits; 80–107% listening adherence; 83% retention
to six-month endpoint. Treatment effect sizes for cognition at six month
follow-up ranged from d = 0.00 ([−0.64,0.64], music alone), d = 0.31,
([0.36,0.97], mindful music) for list learning; to d = 0.58 ([0.06,1.11],
music alone), d = 0.51 ([−0.07,1.09], mindful music) for immediate story
recall; and d = 0.67 ([0.12,1.22], music alone), d = 0.77
([0.16,1.38]mindful music) for attentional switching compared to audiobooks.
No signal of change was seen for mood. A definitive study would require 306
participants to detect a clinically substantial difference in improvement
(z-score difference = 0.66, p = 0.017, 80% power) in verbal
memory (delayed story recall).
Conclusions
Mindful music listening is feasible and acceptable post-stroke. Music
listening interventions appear to be a promising approach to improving
recovery from stroke.
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