The impact of different music genres on pain tolerance: emphasizing the significance of individual music genre preferences.

Music is a promising (adjunctive) treatment for both acute and chronic pain, reducing the need for pharmacological analgesics and their side effects. Yet, little is known about the effect of different types of music. Hence, we investigated the efficacy of five music genres (Urban, Electronic, Classical, Rock and Pop) on pain tolerance. In this parallel randomized experimental study, we conducted a cold pressor test in healthy volunteers (n = 548). The primary outcome was pain tolerance, measured in seconds. No objective (tolerance time) or subjective (pain intensity and unpleasantness) differences were found among the five genres. Multinomial logistic regression showed that overall genre preference positively influenced pain tolerance. In contrast, the music genres that participants thought would help for pain relief did not. Our study was the first to investigate pain tolerance at genre level and in the context of genre preference without self-selecting music. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that listening to a favored music genre has a significant positive influence on pain tolerance, irrespective of the kind of genre. Our results emphasize the importance of individual music (genre) preference when looking at the analgesic benefits of music. This should be considered when implementing music in the clinical setting.

Prognostic Factors and Incidence for Postictal Agitation After Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: Postictal agitation (PIA) is an adverse effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and is known to predict other side effects of ECT, but inconsistencies in the literature remain regarding PIA prognostic factors and incidence. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted (1) to identify prognostic factors for PIA following ECT and (2) to elucidate the diverse incidences of PIA following ECT based on demographic and clinical characteristics. Specifically, electronic databases were searched for retrospective observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that objectively reported PIA incidence. Additional inclusion criteria encompassed studies involving patients 18 years or older and allowed for the extraction of PIA prognostic factors. This resulted in the inclusion of 21 articles with 66,047 patients in total. A total of 35 prognostic factors were identified for PIA after ECT, consisting of 8 anesthesia-related, 19 patient-related, and 8 ECT-related prognostic factors. A meta-analysis was conducted for 7 prognostic factors. None of the prognostic factors demonstrated a significant effect on reducing or increasing PIA incidence. Mean PIA was 13.9% (18.0% adjusted) at the patient level and 12.4% (16.5% adjusted) at the session level. Overall risk of bias was generally moderate to low, except in the outcome measurement domain, where 43% of the studies had a high risk of bias. Although none of the prognostic factors in meta-analysis were significant, several other prognostic factors consistently indicated increased or decreased risk, providing direction for future research. A scarcity of (high-quality) data emphasizes the need for additional research on this topic to be conducted.

A multidisciplinary approach on music induced-analgesia differentiated by socio-cultural background in healthy volunteers (MOSART): A cross-over randomized controlled trial protocol.

Background: Integrating music into pain treatment demonstrates significant benefits, effectively reducing subjective pain levels and perioperative opioid requirements. Currently, the relationship between the impact of specific types of music and listeners' socio-cultural background is still unclear. This is especially relevant given that sociological research indicates that these factors can have a notable influence on music preference and perception. Current evidence suggests that individuals who choose their own music may experience greater benefits. However, additional research is needed to comprehensively grasp whether the effect of (preferred) music on pain endurance remains consistent across different socio-cultural backgrounds. Methods: In this study, a collaborative effort between medical and sociological researchers aims to investigate music-induced analgesia differentiated by socio-cultural background in healthy volunteers. Participants (n = 84) will listen to self-, and researcher-chosen music and a podcast as a control condition in a cross-over study design. The primary outcome of this study is pain endurance measured by electric stimuli of increasing intensity. Detailed sociological validated questionnaires will be utilized. Considering the notable influence of educational level on music taste formation found in previous research and its crucial role as a source of socio-cultural differentiation, participants will be stratified based on their level of education. Discussion: This experimental study represents one of the first efforts to gain a socio-culturally differentiated understanding of the therapeutic potential of music. Consequently, this could pave the way to purposefully and inclusively implement personalized music in healthcare settings.

Ocular findings in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A systematic literature review and results of a Dutch multicenter study.

The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a multisystem disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1:3000 live births. Manifestations show a marked variability in expression and include speech- and language delay, intellectual disability, and neuropsychiatric disorders. We aim to provide an overview of ocular findings in 22q11.2DS in order to optimize recommendations for ophthalmic screening. We combined results from a systematic literature review with results from a multicenter cross-sectional study of patients with 22q11.2DS who were assessed by an ophthalmologist. Our systematic literature search yielded four articles, describing 270 patients. We included 132 patients in our cross-sectional study (median age 8.9 [range 0-56] years). Most reported ocular findings were retinal vascular tortuosity (32%-78%), posterior embryotoxon (22%-50%), eye lid hooding (20%-67%), strabismus (12%-36%), amblyopia (2%-11%), ptosis (4%-6%), and refractive errors, of which hyperopia (6%-48%) and astigmatism (3%-23%) were most common. Visual acuity was (near) normal in most patients (91%-94%). Refractive errors, strabismus, and amblyopia are treatable conditions that are frequently present in patients with 22q11.2DS and should be corrected at an early stage. Therefore, in 22q11.2DS, we recommend ophthalmic and orthoptic screening at the age of 3 years or at diagnosis, and a low-threshold referral in adults.