Clinical Effect and Mechanism Study of Five Elements Music Therapy(FEMT) on Depression Disorder

Launched by SHANGHAI MENTAL HEALTH CENTER · Jun 24, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether a special type of music therapy called Five-Elements Music Therapy (FEMT), based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, can help improve symptoms of depression. The therapy uses specific tones from traditional music, especially Gong-mode and Zhi-mode sounds, to see if listening to this music can improve mood and brain function in people with depression. Researchers will compare two types of customized five-element music to find out which one works better, while also measuring brain activity and other body responses.

People who might be eligible to join this study are adults diagnosed with depression who have a certain level of symptoms (based on a standard depression rating scale) and can hear and see well enough to participate in the tests. During the 4-week study, participants will listen to one of the two types of music twice a day for 30 minutes each time, followed by a short rest. They will also continue taking their usual antidepressant medication. Every two weeks, their mood and anxiety levels will be checked, and after the study, tests like brain wave recordings and eye movement will be done to see how the music affected them. This study is not yet recruiting, but it offers a unique way to explore how music might support treatment for depression.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Meet the diagnostic criteria for depressive episodes of ICD-10;
• • Hamilton Depression Scale -17 items score ≥14 points;
• • The diagnosis should be confirmed by at least two physicians with the title of attending physician or above.
• • Have sufficient visual and auditory levels to ensure that the necessary checks and experiments for the research can be completed;
• • Sign the written informed consent form and agree to be enrolled in the trial as required by the research plan.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • There are serious heart, liver and kidney diseases, organic brain diseases, serious cardiovascular diseases, tumors, blood history, rheumatism, malnutrition and neurodegenerative diseases, etc.
• • Depressive episodes secondary to other mental or physical illnesses;
• • There is a history of abuse of tobacco, alcohol and other psychoactive substances;
• • Those with comorbidities of other mental disorders;
• • Had participated in other drug clinical trials before inclusion.