Auditory beat stimulation and behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia: a case study

A growing number of studies suggest that auditory beat stimulation may be helpful in providing relief from symptoms of anxiety. However, evidence for this effect in clinical populations remains sparse. In this case study, we examined the effects of theta frequency monaural beat stimulation on anxiety levels and mind wandering of four patients diagnosed with behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Over the period of a fortnight, consisting of two one-week blocks, patients were exposed daily to monaural beats at 8Hz and a pure tone control condition, in a randomized order. To assess levels of anxiety, mind wandering and measures of general well-being, patients completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Mind Wandering Questionnaire at the beginning and end of each week, as well as the Rogers’ Happy/ Sad Face Scale, before and after each stimulation. The latter consisted of subscales for anxiety, mood and pain. Scores from the questionnaires and scales pertaining to anxiety, depression and well-being indicated mixed effects of the monaural beat stimulation. A trend towards an overall decrease in mind wandering was observed across the four patients for the monaural beat stimulation condition, when compared to the control tone. These data suggest that such adjunct approaches to current therapies for anxiety are indeed possible, in patient populations. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Clinical Trial NCT05917886 ### Funding Statement This study did not receive any funding. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Commission of the University of Bonn. This has been stated within the manuscript. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes Data is available upon request. This has been stated within the manuscript.