Effectiveness of Improvisational Music Therapy for Autistic Children Aged 7 to 11: A Randomised Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of individual improvisational music therapy sessions for autistic children aged 7 to 11. This trial compares adding these music therapy sessions to usual care against usual care alone over 12 weeks. The study aims to understand how music therapy impacts social communication, communication skills, psychosocial problems, wellbeing, adaptive functioning, anxiety, and the therapeutic relationship in autistic children. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group, receiving twice-weekly 30-minute individual improvisational music therapy sessions for 12 weeks, or the control group, receiving routine support from general practitioners, mental health, and educational professionals without additional music therapy. The therapy is delivered by qualified music therapists using a structured training manual. The study includes baseline assessments before randomization, a primary endpoint at 13 weeks, and a secondary endpoint at 39 weeks post-randomization. During the trial, participants will undergo evaluations including video-recorded sessions and various standardized questionnaires to measure social communication changes, communication skills, psychosocial difficulties, wellbeing, adaptive functioning, and anxiety. Data collection occurs at baseline, 13 weeks (end of intervention), and 39 weeks (6 months post-intervention). Researchers will also assess the link between the therapeutic relationship and progress in social and communication skills. The study concludes after the final follow-up data collection.

Autism - Children's Improvisational Music Therapy Evaluation