Effect of Music Therapy on Cognitive Recovery

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Participation in music therapy will result in improvement in cognitive functioning, as measured by neuropsychological testing 9-12 months following surgery.

Detailed Description
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Music therapy could have a significant impact on clinical outcomes for patients with epilepsy. One study found that epilepsy patients who received music therapy for six months or greater had a significant reduction in number of seizures and could potentially aid in decreasing medication dosage. The investigators would like to contribute to this sort of research, but focus on what effect music therapy has on a patient's cognitive recovery after undergoing epilepsy surgery. Although research exists regarding music therapy on memory and communication, its overall effect on this patient population is unclear. The Dell Children's Epilepsy program hopes that this research project on memory and communication will have a positive effect on their patients with epilepsy.

Official Title
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I. The Effect of Music Therapy on Cognitive Recovery From Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery

Conditions
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Epilepsy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Music Therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Between 6-16 years of age Will undergo either a brain resection or lobectomy Exclusion Criteria: Pre-surgical Full Scale IQ below 70 Primary language is not English Hearing or vision impairments Parental consent cannot be obtained

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 6 Years
Maximum Age: 16 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Music Therapy Arm<br>Music therapy evaluation prior to surgery (Baseline 1). These evaluations will also be given within 3 days of epilepsy surgery (Baseline 2), 8 weeks after surgery (Baseline 3), and 9-12 months after surgery (Baseline 4.) Pre-study and post-study scores from the neuropsychological assessments will be compared to determine if music therapy has a significant effect on the child's cognitive recovery. Will consist of meeting with the music therapists, Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS), or Child Life Assistants (CLA) for music therapy (treatment group) for about 45 minutes, twice per week, for Weeks 1-8. CThe Music Therapy group will partake in interventions such as singing and playing musical instruments. | Behavioral: Music Therapy<br>* Will consist of meeting with the music therapists, Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS), or Child Life Assistants (CLA) for either music therapy for about 45 minutes, twice per week, for Weeks 1-8. The Music Therapy group will partake in interventions such as singing and playing musical instruments. All brain surgery candidates receive a neuropsychological assessment before and after surgery (9-12 months after surgery). In addition, patients who agree to participate in the study will receive cognitive screening and a music therapy evaluation prior to surgery (Baseline 1). These evaluations will also be given within 3 days of epilepsy surgery (Baseline 2), 8 weeks after surgery (Baseline 3), and 9-12 months after surgery (Baseline 4.)<br>|
| Active Comparator: Unstructured Play Arm<br>Child life programs provide children with opportunities to engage in normal play and recreational activities that promote growth, development and feelings of success and fulfillment.All brain surgery candidates receive a neuropsychological assessment before and after surgery (9-12 months after surgery). This is the standard of care for all brain surgery patients. The results of this assessment and will be used in this research study. In addition, patients who agree to participate in the study will receive cognitive screening and a music therapy evaluation prior to surgery (Baseline 1). These evaluations will also be given within 3 days of epilepsy surgery (Baseline 2), 8 weeks after surgery (Baseline 3), and 9-12 months after surgery (Baseline 4.) | Behavioral: Music Therapy<br>* Will consist of meeting with the music therapists, Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS), or Child Life Assistants (CLA) for either music therapy for about 45 minutes, twice per week, for Weeks 1-8. The Music Therapy group will partake in interventions such as singing and playing musical instruments. All brain surgery candidates receive a neuropsychological assessment before and after surgery (9-12 months after surgery). In addition, patients who agree to participate in the study will receive cognitive screening and a music therapy evaluation prior to surgery (Baseline 1). These evaluations will also be given within 3 days of epilepsy surgery (Baseline 2), 8 weeks after surgery (Baseline 3), and 9-12 months after surgery (Baseline 4.)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Participation in music therapy will result in improvement in neuropsychological scores 12 months following surgery for music therapy study group. | All brain surgery candidates receive a neuropsychological assessment before and after surgery (9-12 months after surgery). This is the standard of care for all brain surgery patients. The results of this assessment and will be used in this research study. In addition, patients who agree to participate in the study will receive cognitive screening and a music therapy evaluation prior to surgery (Baseline 1). These evaluations will also be given within 3 days of epilepsy surgery (Baseline 2), 8 weeks after surgery (Baseline 3), and 9-12 months after surgery (Baseline 4.) | 12 months post surgery | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Epilepsy, seizure disorder