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Background and study aims This study involves people admitted to hospital for assessment and treatment of mental health problems (acute psychiatric in-patient care). People are admitted if they are experiencing a crisis in their mental health and are at risk of harm. The person may not have experienced mental health problems before or may have symptoms that have become worse. Admission to hospital can be a frightening experience and the person may be admitted against their will (sectioned). During hospital admission, assessments are made by different health-care professions. Medication is prescribed along with access to groups and psychological therapy which aims to support the person in their recovery and to return home as quickly as possible. Music therapy is one form of arts therapy that is often provided in groups in hospitals. The study team has developed an approach to music therapy which is provided four times per week for people in hospital for mental health problems. In order to conduct a study to find out how effective the approach is, it is important to conduct a small study to find out how best to do this so that we can make sure this is done properly and is acceptable to people who take part. The aim of this study is to find out if it is feasible to conduct a research study in this area. Who can participate? Adults who have been admitted to hospital for assessment and treatment of mental health problems. What does the study involve? The study has two parts. In part one, adults on four hospital wards are invited to participate. If they agree to take part, the researcher goes through an initial assessment and ask questions about symptoms, interest in music, mood, relationships with others and satisfaction with treatment. After this assessment, participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group attend an off-ward music therapy group for 60 minutes, 4 times per week for up to 4 weeks. Those in the second group continue to receive usual care, which involves being able to access all other care provided in hospital apart from music therapy. In part two, adults on two wards, admitted to hospital are invited to participate. One ward has an on-ward music therapy group that runs for 3 times per week. At the other ward does not have music therapy input. Patients on both wards are invited to take part as above to complete the assessments only. In both parts of the study, the initial assessments are repeated after two and four weeks and three and six months. An optional interview is offered at four weeks for participants to tell the researchers what their experience of taking part in the study and music therapy was like. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? There are no guaranteed benefits involved with taking part, however existing research into music therapy for people in hospital with mental health problems suggests it might help with motivation, symptoms, mood and relationships. Participants may value being able to share their experiences to provide information on how to improve group music therapy in hospitals. There is a small risk that in music therapy some people find the music in the group noisy or upsetting. In addition, participants might find it difficult to read the questionnaires. The researcher can help if this is the case. Some of the questions might cause discomfort or upset. Where is the study run from? 1. Newham Centre for Mental Health (UK) 2. Tower Hamlets Centre for Mental Health (UK) When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? April 2016 to August 2018 Who is funding the study? National Institute for Health Research (UK) Who is the main contact? Dr Catherine Carr [email protected]

Inclusion criteria

• Specialty: Mental Health, Primary sub-specialty: Study not assigned to a MH Clinical Studies Group; UKCRC code/ Disease: Mental Health/ Unspecified mental disorder

Links

• isrctn