Mag. Christian Gold, PhD
My scientific work is about connecting randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and social/cognitive/affective neuroscience to understand how cultural activities such as music can be used to promote health. My current research can be described as translational, in several ways: translating between basic and applied research; between clinical and statistical thinking; between languages and cultures.
I spent the first decade of my career with music and music therapy; the second with clinical trials and biostatistics; and the third with neuroscience. I moved from Germany to Vienna to study music; then went to Scandinavia to conduct clinical research with direct societal relevance; and then connected back to Central Europe to integrate aspects of basic research. My PhD, a large non-randomised study, taught me the importance of large samples and of randomisation. Over the years, I have conducted or contributed to RCTs across many countries (Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, Columbia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, Italy, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Turkey, UK, USA). Randomisation is the best way to separate cause and effect, but while large, simple RCTs can provide definite answers to simple questions, we also need to find ways to address the fact that complex interventions are always changing. Therefore, I am very interested in RCT designs that go beyond the traditional simple trial design – biomarkers, adaptive designs, flexible manuals – while also recognising that each adaptation adds complexity.
Schurig, E., Baker, F., Bloska, J., Frischen, U., Geretsegger, M., Gold, C., Janus, S., Lee, C. Y.-E., Neuser, J., Rasing, N., Stretton-Smith, P. A., Sveinsdottir, V., Tamplin, J., Vink, A., Zuidema, S., & Kreutz, G. (2026). Group singing in cognitive decline - what it is and how it is done. A systematic search and review. Geriatric Nursing, 67, 103725. Article 103725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2025.103725
Geretsegger, M., Meling, H. M. K., Savinova, A., Aßmus, J., Dy, C. L., Mydland, T. S., Dybdahl, K., Johansen, B., Kölsch, S., Malerbakken, A., Sommerbakk, M., Tuastad, L., Erga, A. H., Hetland, J., Karshikoff, B., Svendsen, T. S., Lien, L., Roer, G. E., Røste, H.-A., ... Gold, C. (2026). Fighting Addictions, improving Lives through COmprehensive drug rehabilitation with music (FALCO): Protocol for an international randomised controlled trial. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.02.19.26346573
Sveinsdottir, V., Assmus, J., Schneider, J., Baker, F. A., Uçaner, B., Kreutz, G., Geretsegger, M., Rasing, N., Bloska, J., Stretton-Smith, P. A., Lee, Y. E. C., Wake, J. D., Odell-Miller, H., Tamplin, J., Vink, A. C., Ablewhite, J., Neuser, J., Frischen, U., Timmer, A., ... Gold, C. (2025). Clinical effectiveness of music interventions for dementia and depression in older people (MIDDEL): a multinational, cluster-randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, 6(12), Article 100783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanhl.2025.100783
Schneider, J., Ablewhite, J., Bloska, J., Orrell, M., Odell-Miller, H., Assmus, J., Gold, C., & Sveinsdottir, V. (2025). Impact of Music Interventions on Depression in Care Home Residents with Dementia: UK Results from Music Interventions for Depression and Dementia in Elderly Care RCT. Geriatrics (Switzerland), 10(6), Article 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics10060166
Ruiz, M., Salomon-Gimmon, M., Specht, K., Gold, C., & Posserud, M. B. (2025). Bridging neuroscience and practice: A semi-structured music therapy approach with autistic children. Arts in Psychotherapy, 96, Article 102375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2025.102375
Rasing, N. L., Janus, S. I. M., Vink, A. C., Frischen, U. A. S., Neuser, J., Wake, J. D., Skoluda, N., Sveinsdottir, V., Geretsegger, M., Langeland, E., Kreutz, G., Gold, C., Nater, U. M., & Zuidema, S. U. (2025). The short-term impact of music interventions on stress: Results of a multinational cluster-randomized trial using salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase assessments in care home residents with dementia. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107640
Lichtensztejn, M., Cui, A.-X., Geretsegger, M., Lundervold, A. J., Koelsch, S., Pfabigan, D. M., Assmus, J., Langeland, E., Ruiz, M., Tabernig, C., Skogseth, R. E., & Gold, C. (2025). Memory for Music (M4M) protocol for an international randomised controlled trial: effects of individual intensive musical training based on singing in non-musicians with Alzheimer’s disease. BMJ Open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-095136
Epstein, S., Arnon, S., Markova, G., Nguyen, T., Hoehl, S., Eitan, L., Bauer-Rusek, S., Yakobson, D., & Gold, C. (2025). Mother-Preterm Infant Contingent Interactions During Supported Infant-Directed Singing in the NICU-A Feasibility Study. Children, 12(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/children12091273
Robb, S. L., Story, K. M., Harman, E., Burns, D. S., Bradt, J., Edwards, E., Golden, T. L., Gold, C., Iversen, J. R., Habibi, A., Johnson, J. K., Lense, M., Perkins, S. M., & Springs, S. (2025). Guideline: Reporting guidelines for music-based interventions checklist: Explanation and elaboration guide. Integrative Medicine Research, 14(3), Article 101200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imr.2025.101200
Robb, S. L., Springs, S., Edwards, E., Golden, T. L., Johnson, J. K., Burns, D. S., Belgrave, M., Bradt, J., Gold, C., Habibi, A., Iversen, J. R., Lense, M., MacLean, J. A., & Perkins, S. M. (2025). Reporting guidelines for music-based interventions: An update and validation study. Integrative Medicine Research, 14(3), Article 101199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imr.2025.101199
Rasing, N., Vink, A., Schmitz, M., Wake, J. D., Geretsegger, M., Sveinsdottir, V., Gold, C., Saltik, Y., Nevruz, H., Ucaner, B., Frischen, U., Neuser, J., Kreutz, G., Ablewhite, J., Schneider, J., Zuidema, S., & Janus, S. (2025). Barriers and Facilitators for Implementing Music Interventions in Care Homes for People with Dementia and Depression: Process Evaluation Results of the Multinational Cluster-Randomized MIDDEL Trial. Behavioral Sciences, 15(8), Article 1004. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15081004
Geretsegger, M., Fusar-Poli, L., Elefant, C., Mössler, K. A., Vitale, G., & Gold, C. (2025). Music therapy for autistic people: a Cochrane Review. BJPsych Advances, 31(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1192/bja.2024.80
Robb, S. L., Springs, S., Edwards, E., Golden, T. L., Johnson, J. K., Burns, D. S., Belgrave, M., Bradt, J., Gold, C., Habibi, A., Iversen, J. R., Lense, M., MacLean, J. A., & Perkins, S. M. (2025). Reporting Guidelines for Music-Based Interventions: An Update and Validation Study: Secondary publication. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, 14. https://doi.org/10.1177/27536130251384199
Robb, S. L., Story, K. M., Harman, E., Burns, D. S., Bradt, J., Edwards, E., Golden, T. L., Gold, C., Iversen, J. R., Habibi, A., Johnson, J. K., Lense, M., Perkins, S. M., & Springs, S. (2025). Reporting Guidelines for Music-Based Interventions Checklist: Explanation and Elaboration Guide: Secondary publication. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, 14. https://doi.org/10.1177/27536130251384272
Bertelsen, L. R., Gold, C., Bizik, G., Asztalos, M., & Jacobsen, S. L. (Accepted/In press). Playlist intervention to reduce anxiety for inpatients in standard electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): An exploratory randomised controlled trial. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/08098131.2025.2528773
Robb, S. L., Springs, S., Edwards, E., Golden, T. L., Johnson, J. K., Burns, D. S., Belgrave, M., Bradt, J., Gold, C., Habibi, A., Iversen, J. R., Lense, M., MacLean, J. A., & Perkins, S. M. (2025). Reporting Guidelines for Music-based Intervention: an update and validation study. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, Article 1551920. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1551920
Robb, S. L., Story, K. M., Harman, E., Burns, D. S., Bradt, J., Edwards, E., Golden, T. L., Gold, C., Iversen, J. R., Habibi, A., Johnson, J. K., Lense, M., Perkins, S. M., & Springs, S. (2025). Reporting guidelines for music-based interventions checklist: Explanation and elaboration guide. Music and Medicine, 17(4), 270-284. https://doi.org/10.47513/mmd.v17i4.1133
Robb, S. L., Story, K. M., Harman, E., Burns, D. S., Bradt, J., Edwards, E., Golden, T. L., Gold, C., Iversen, J. R., Habibi, A., Johnson, J. K., Lense, M., Perkins, S. M., & Springs, S. (2025). Reporting Guidelines for Music-based Interventions checklist: explanation and elaboration guide. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, Article 1552659. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1552659
Rasing, N. L., Vink, A. C., Bloska, J., Nevruz, H., Baklrcl, T., Saltik, Y., Ucaner, B., Dugstad Wake, J., Sveinsdottir, V., Geretsegger, M., Gold, C., Frischen, U., Neuser, J., Kreutz, G., Zuidema, S. U., & Janus, S. I. M. (2025). Video Analysis of Group Music Therapy for Dementia: Intervention Delivery and Treatment Fidelity. Journal of music therapy, 62(1), Article thaf007. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thaf007
Papatzikis, E., Agapaki, M., Selvan, R. N., Hanson-Abromeit, D., Gold, C., Epstein, S., Lok, U. W. V., Barda, E., & Pandey, V. (2024). Music medicine and music therapy in neonatal care: a scoping review of passive music listening research applications and findings on infant development and medical practice. BMC Pediatrics, 24(1), Article 829. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-05275-z
Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology
Liebiggasse 5
1010 Wien
Room: O1.26