Assessing Molecular Mechanisms and Effects of Music Therapy in Youth With Sickle Cell Disease Using Single-cell RNA-sequencing
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a 4-week music therapy (MT) intervention can reduce chronic pain and improve psychosocial outcomes in youth with sickle cell disease (SCD). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does MT reduce pain intensity, frequency of pain episodes, and improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL)? * Does MT alter immune cell composition and gene expression in inflammatory pathways, as measured by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)? Researchers will compare participants randomized to music therapy versus a control condition to see if MT produces superior improvements in pain and psychosocial outcomes, and distinct molecular changes.
• Diagnosed with SCD
• English fluency (for survey completion)
• Have access to a personal electronic device (e.g., phone, tablet) with access to the internet
• Meet the criteria for chronic pain defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). IASP defines chronic pain as pain that is both:
‣ Persistent or recurrent for ≥ 3 months
⁃ is associated with significant emotional distress or functional disability.30