Therapeutic Music Listening in Post Stroke Patients. (ML4STROKE)

February 18, 2026 updated by: Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA

Therapeutic Music Listening in Post Stroke Patients: a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Numerous studies have highlighted how individualized music listening favors motor, cognitive, and emotional recovery in post-stroke patients, stimulating neuroplasticity and cerebral connectivity. However, gaps persist regarding the standardization of protocols and the neural mechanisms involved. This study aims to bridge these gaps with a rigorous scientific approach, integrating clinical assessments and neuroimaging.

This is a multicenter randomized controlled single-blind trial. Subjects will be allocated into 2 groups: an experimental group subjected to a 4-week intervention of daily Therapeutic Music Listening sessions (Raglio, 2023) in addition to conventional therapeutic interventions (standard care), and a control group subjected solely to conventional therapeutic interventions (standard care). A follow-up is scheduled for one month after the conclusion of treatment. The study duration is 24 months and the screening phase will be continuous until the conclusion of planned recruitment.

Primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of Therapeutic Music Listening (TML) on anxiety in post-stroke patients.

Secondary objective of the study is to investigate other possible effects on depression, quality of life, cognitive aspects (specifically attention and memory), and on connectivity via functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).

Primary endpoint is the reduction of anxiety. Secondary endpoint is the improvement in depression, quality of life, cognitive functions, and cerebral connectivity parameters.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

132

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Italy
      • Pavia, Italy, 27100

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of first ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke verified by Computerized Axial Tomography or Magnetic Resonance
  • Age above 18 years
  • Mini Mental State Examination ≥ 24
  • Latency from the event < 3 months
  • Presence of clinically significant anxiety and/or depression (Generalized Anxiety Disorder and/or Patient Health Questionnaire ≥10)
  • Onset of acute event not more than 90 days prior to enrollment in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Clinical instability
  • Lesions dated over 3 months from onset
  • Multiple or bilateral lesions
  • Mini Mental State Examination < 24
  • Previous or concomitant neurological, psychiatric, or internal pathologies found in the year preceding the study that, in the judgment of the clinical investigator, may affect the psychological condition and/or interfere with study procedures
  • Behavioral/cognitive disorders that prevent adequate patient compliance with treatment
  • Therapeutic-rehabilitative treatments with music in the year preceding the study
  • Previous musical skills (training or musical practice lasting more than 3 years)
  • Refusal or impossibility to sign informed consent

For the subgroup of patients subjected to functional Magnetic Resonance, the following exclusion criteria will also be taken into account:

  • Incompatibility with the execution of the MRI investigation (e.g., ascertained or possible presence of metal in the body; claustrophobia; sickle cell anemia)
  • Inability to understand or provide informed consent for the execution of the MRI investigation

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Therapeutic Music Listening intervention
Experimental group subjected to a 4-week intervention of daily Therapeutic Music Listening sessions (Raglio, 2023) in addition to conventional therapeutic interventions (standard care)
Other: Music intervention
The intervention will be managed by a professional music therapist with the collaboration of an operator. The music therapist collects data on the clinical history and musical preferences of the patient, which are integrated with the use of specific musical parameters and structures to create personalized playlists lasting 40 minutes. Such playlists aim to reflect the musical tastes of the patient and at the same time to obtain therapeutic objectives inducing relaxation, activation or distraction, depending on the clinical needs. The listening sessions take place daily for one month at a time of day chosen with the patient, who listen to the playlist through the use of a tablet and headphones. The music therapist submits to the patient a brief questionnaire after the first listening and then weekly, to verify the impact of music listening and possibly modify the playlist in line with the patient's feedback and the evolution of the treatment.
Other Names:
  • Therapeutic Music Listening
Experimental: Control group
Control group subjected solely to conventional therapeutic interventions.
Other: Control group
Standard treatment is based on daily rehab activities (physical therapy and/or occupational therapy) and weekly psychological support sessions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Effectiveness of Therapeutic Music Listening (TML) on anxiety in post stroke patients
Time Frame: From enrollment (T0) to the end of treatment at 4 weeks (T1) and follow-up at 8 weeks (T2).
To evaluate the impact of Therapeutic Music Listening on the improvement of anxiety, that will be measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). In this scale scores range from 0 to 21 with higher scores indicating more severe GAD symptoms.
From enrollment (T0) to the end of treatment at 4 weeks (T1) and follow-up at 8 weeks (T2).
Effectiveness of Therapeutic Music Listening (TML) on depression in post stroke patients
Time Frame: Time Frame: From enrollment (T0) to the end of treatment at 4 weeks (T1) and follow-up at 8 weeks (T2).
To evaluate the impact of Therapeutic Music Listening on the improvement of depression, that will be measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Scores range from 0 to 27 with higher scores indicating more severe PHQ symptoms.
Time Frame: From enrollment (T0) to the end of treatment at 4 weeks (T1) and follow-up at 8 weeks (T2).
Effectiveness of Therapeutic Music Listening (TML) on quality of life in post stroke patients
Time Frame: Time Frame: From enrollment (T0) to the end of treatment at 4 weeks (T1) and follow-up at 8 weeks (T2).
To evaluate the impact of Therapeutic Music Listening on the improvement of quality of life, that will be measured using the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). Scores are of two types: the Utility Index (EQ-5D Index), that represents the ratio between health state and social utility, and the Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) that represents the subjective self-perception of health. The EQ-5D Index ranges from 0.000 to 1.000 with the latter indicating "full health" and the EQ-VAS ranges from 0 to 100 with the latter indicating the best state of health.
Time Frame: From enrollment (T0) to the end of treatment at 4 weeks (T1) and follow-up at 8 weeks (T2).
Effectiveness of Therapeutic Music Listening (TML) on cognitive outcomes in post stroke patients
Time Frame: Time Frame: From enrollment (T0) to the end of treatment at 4 weeks (T1) and follow-up at 8 weeks (T2).
To evaluate the impact of Therapeutic Music Listening on the improvement of cognitive outocomes (with particular focus on Memory and Attention), that will be measured using the Monteral Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Scores range from 0 to 30 with scores of 26 or above considered normal.
Time Frame: From enrollment (T0) to the end of treatment at 4 weeks (T1) and follow-up at 8 weeks (T2).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
fMRI investigation on the resting-state brain activity modifications
Time Frame: From enrollment to end of treatment at 4 weeks.
The main variable regarding resting-state brain activity will be the activation intensity within each individual voxel of the magnetic resonance images, inferred as a metric of functional connectivity between the Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) contrast signal time series in each image voxel. This variable will consist of distinct intrinsic connectivity metrics, specifically: a) "seed-to-voxel" connectivity originating from auditory brain areas; b) connectivity between "resting-state networks" identified via multivariate analysis methods of the resting-state fMRI data.
From enrollment to end of treatment at 4 weeks.
fMRI investigation on the brain macrostructure modifications
Time Frame: From enrollment to end of treatment at 4 weeks.
The main variable regarding brain macrostructure will be the contrast index between gray matter and white matter within each individual voxel of the magnetic resonance images (T1-weighted). The pre-processing and statistical analysis of these images will provide an index related to gray matter volume and density within each individual voxel.
From enrollment to end of treatment at 4 weeks.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA

Collaborators

Armonica Onlus Foundation

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 12, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 30, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 25, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 25, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 18, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ML4STROKE-CTSM179-25

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Subscribe