Music Therapy in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

A Randomized Clinical Trial of Music Therapy as an Adjunct to Standard Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Co-morbid Anxiety and Depression in Iran

Previous studies have highlighted the potential therapeutic benefits of receptive individual 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 have not been investigated to date. The present study therefore aimed to investigate the efficacy of music therapy as an adjunct to standard treatment, on obsessions in patients with treatment-naïve OCD. Moreover, given the fact that a significant proportion of patients with OCD have other comorbid mood or anxiety disorders, the question of whether therapeutic benefits of music could be expanded to also affect concurrent depressive and anxiety symptoms was explored.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Music Therapy/methods, Combined Modality Therapy, Anxiety Disorders/therapy

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor plus cognitive behavioral therapy. Music therapy encompassing 12 half-hour sessions of therapist-supervised receptive music therapy scheduled over four weeks

A medication of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) family, Behavioral. The type and dosage of the medication was decided by the treating psychiatrist.

12 sessions of 30-minute individual-based receptive music therapy, supervised by the treating psychiatrist.

Inclusion Criteria: were at least 18 years or older; had axis I diagnosis of OCD according to the criteria delineated by the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders - fourth edition diagnosed by an experienced psychiatrist had not received treatment previously for the disorder agreed to partake in the study Exclusion Criteria: refused to partake in the study