Effects of a Pilot Music Therapy Intervention on Motivation in Patients with Severe Hypercholesterolemia

Patients with an LDL-C ≥ 190mg/dL benefit from a healthy lifestyle and use of medications to lower their risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Change in autonomous motivation and perceived competence are viable targets for reducing CVD risk according to Self-Determination Theory. A pilot randomized controlled trial of music therapy for 31 very high LDL-C subjects found no between 1 or 2 session group different effects on motivation, LDL-C or non-HDL-C. Perceived competence for healthy lifestyle significantly increased (p<0.05), mean LDL-C decreased from 131 to 87 mg/dL (p<0.0005), and mean non-HDL-C decreased from 155 to 113 mg/dL (p=0.001) after music therapy in all participants. An increase in autonomous motivation for medication use predicted a  in the change in LDL-C (p<0.05).  Music therapy may enhance motivation for reducing CVD risk. Autonomous motivation for medication use and perceived competence for lifestyle change may be useful targets of future interventions for high cholesterol.