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NCT07845422NARecruiting

A Study of Music Therapy for Anxiety in People With Cancer

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Start Date

9/4/2026

Completion Date

9/1/2029

Summary

The researchers are doing this study to compare two different music-based treatment approaches and see if one may work better to reduce anxiety. The researchers will also study whether these music-based treatment approaches help people feel socially connected and change how they cope with anxiety, and whether these changes are linked to lower anxiety levels. Both approaches use music-based activities to treat anxiety. One of the approaches uses an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered song creation platform to write songs with a music therapist. The other approach involves music listening exercises and music-based discussions with research staff, during which you will learn about music culture and history.

Eligibility Criteria

Age Range: 18 years to No maximum

Criteria: * Patients must have a pathologically confirmed advanced cancer diagnosis: stage III or IV lung cancer; any stage pancreatic cancer, unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, unresectable liver cancer, unresectable ampullary or peri-ampullary cancer, or other stage IV gastrointestinal cancer; stage III or IV ovarian or fallopian tube cancers or other stage IV gynecologic cancer; stage IV breast cancer; stage III testicular cancer or any stage IV genitourinary cancer; stage IV sarcoma; stage IV melanoma; stage IV endocrine cancer; lymphoma, myeloma, or leukemia * Currently receiving oncological treatment * Age ≥ 18; English or Spanish-speaking * Ambulatory as indicated by a Karnofsky performance score of 60 or higher * Score of 8 or higher on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety subscale * Anxiety symptoms lasting for at least 1 month * Greater than 6-month expected survival as judged by the treating oncologist * No diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse * Score of 10 or higher on Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration indicative of dementia * No prior receipt of music therapy within the past six months * Not currently receiving any form of psychotherapy * Concomitant Medications * No initiation or change in scheduled anxiety medications (e.g., anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants) within the past 4 weeks * Initiation or change in PRN anxiety medications are allowed within the past 4 weeks * No plan to initiate or change scheduled anxiety medications during the study * Initiation or change in PRN anxiety medications are allowed during the study * Access to an internet-connected device * Able to provide informed consent * Willing to adhere to study procedures, including randomization, session attendance, and completion of assessments

Interventions

OTHER

AI-Assisted Collaborative Songwriting (ARTIST) Intervention

OTHER

Time and attention matched-music listening (TAME)

Interested in This Trial?

Contact the trial locations directly using the information below to learn more about enrollment.

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Conditions

Cancer

Locations

Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge (All protocol activities)

Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920

United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (All protocol activities)

Middletown, New Jersey 07748

United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (All protocol activities)

Montvale, New Jersey 07645

United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Suffolk - Commack (All protocol activities)

Commack, New York 11725

United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester (All protocol activities)

Harrison, New York 10604

United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All protocol activites)

New York, New York 10065

United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (All protocol activities)

Uniondale, New York 11553

United States