Music therapy and psychotherapy - complementarity or antagonism in the treatment of patients with mental disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: The aim of the paper was to compare the principles of music therapy and psychotherapy, pointing out numerous similarities and differences between these two techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: Resistance is observed, as well as the phenomenon of transference and countertransference. In either method, the therapist is a covered therapeutic mirror for the patient/client. Music therapy, unlike psychotherapy, works almost exclusively on emotions and on the symbolic layer of expression of personality. In the case of music therapy, the verbal layer plays a less significant role than in the case of psychotherapy. The clinical effectiveness of music therapy has been studied much less than that of psychotherapeutic methods. In both psychotherapy and music therapy, there is a phenomenon of transference, countertransference and resistance. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Psychotherapy and music therapy are complementary methods in the treatment of mental and behavioral disorders.

Effect of Music Therapy on Anxiety in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Pregnancy can heighten anxiety levels, impacting both maternal and fetal well-being. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from 33 randomized controlled trials exploring the effects of music therapy on anxiety in pregnant women. The studies included diverse populations, ranging from women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) to those facing high-risk pregnancies. Music therapy interventions varied widely, including virtual reality experiences, classical music, lullabies, and patient-selected music, administered at different pregnancy stages such as IVF treatments, elective cesarean sections, and high-risk hospitalizations. The findings consistently demonstrated that music therapy significantly reduces anxiety levels in pregnant women. Positive outcomes included reductions in both state and trait anxiety, improved pregnancy rates, and enhanced maternal-fetal parameters. Additionally, music therapy showed promise in reducing anxiety during labor, cesarean deliveries, and high-risk hospital stays. These varied interventions and their positive outcomes highlight the potential of music therapy as an effective, non-pharmacological approach to managing pregnancy-related anxiety. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the existing evidence on music therapy's efficacy in alleviating anxiety during pregnancy. It underscores the need for further research to standardize interventions and incorporate music therapy into routine prenatal care. By enhancing the overall well-being of expectant mothers, music therapy could become a valuable adjunct to conventional prenatal care practices.

Music therapy with adult burn patients in the intensive care unit: short-term analysis of electrophysiological signals during music-assisted relaxation.

Burn patients often face elevated pain, anxiety, and depression levels. Music therapy adds to integrative care in burn patients, but research including electrophysiological measures is limited. This study reports electrophysiological signals analysis during Music-Assisted Relaxation (MAR) with burn patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This study is a sub-analysis of an ongoing trial of music therapy with burn patients in the ICU. Electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and electromyogram (EMG) were recorded during MAR with nine burn patients. Additionally, background pain levels (VAS) and anxiety and depression levels (HADS) were assessed. EEG oscillation power showed statistically significant changes in the delta (p < 0.05), theta (p = 0.01), beta (p < 0.05), and alpha (p = 0.05) bands during music therapy. Heart rate variability tachograms high-frequencies increased (p = 0.014), and low-frequencies decreased (p = 0.046). Facial EMG mean frequency decreased (p = 0.01). VAS and HADS scores decreased - 0.76 (p = 0.4) and - 3.375 points (p = 0.37) respectively. Our results indicate parasympathetic system activity, attention shifts, reduced muscle tone, and a relaxed state of mind during MAR. This hints at potential mechanisms of music therapy but needs to be confirmed in larger studies. Electrophysiological changes during music therapy highlight its clinical relevance as a complementary treatment for ICU burn patients.Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04571255). Registered September 24th, 2020. https//classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04571255.

The effect of music therapy and breathing exercise on anxiety and pain in patients undergoing coronary angiography: A randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: For over 50 years, music therapy and breathing exercises have been widely utilized as interventions to help individuals cope with fatigue, stress and pain globally. AIM: To analyse the effects of music and breathing exercises on anxiety and pain in patients undergoing coronary angiography. STUDY DESIGN: This is a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. The sample comprised 165 patients: 55 in the control group, 55 in the breathing exercise group and 55 in the music therapy group. Patients in the music group listened to music during angiography, those in the breathing exercise group practised exercises 30 min before the procedure and the control group received standard treatment. Anxiety levels were assessed before and after the procedure, and pain levels were measured post-procedure. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist for reporting randomized trials was used to guide reporting. RESULTS: Anxiety scores rose significantly in the control group from 33.9 ± 4.2 pre-angiography to 37.7 ± 4.9 post-angiography. Conversely, the breathing group's anxiety scores decreased from 34.3 ± 3.5 before angiography to 31.7 ± 1.5 after angiography, and the music group exhibited a reduction from 32.3 ± 3.6 to 30.8 ± 1.6. Post-angiography, the control group reported a mean pain score of 64 ± 0.8 mm, while the breathing and music groups had significantly lower scores of 35 ± 0.6 and 29 ± 0.8 mm, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a highly significant difference in pain scores between the intervention and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides support for the beneficial effects of employing breathing exercises and music in alleviating pain and anxiety during coronary angiography procedures. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Integrating these findings into clinical practice could be significant for improving patients' pain experiences and anxiety, enhancing the tolerance of invasive medical procedures.

Effects of Songwriting Group Music Therapy Program among Informal Caregivers of Older Adults with Dependency.

Informal caregivers of older people face demanding responsibilities that can negatively affect their wellbeing, highlighting the relevance of interventions that address their specific needs. This study aimed to assess the effects of a group music therapy program based on different songwriting approaches applied to informal caregivers of older adults with dependency. A sample of 113 caregivers participated, being assigned either to the intervention (n = 60) or the control group (n = 53). The intervention group caregivers received 10 weekly sessions of the songwriting program, while the control group continued with their usual care service. Psychological symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed at baseline and follow-up using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Zarit Burden Interview, and SF-36. Group × Time interactions revealed significant improvements in the intervention group compared to the control one in trait anxiety (p = 0.022), social functioning (p = 0.013), role limitations due to physical problems (p = 0.020), and physical component summary (p = 0.022). These findings provided valuable evidence on this novel intervention, showing positive effects for caregivers' wellbeing. The current research emphasizes the importance of considering music therapy as a potential intervention among caregiver support programs.

The effect of lullaby played to preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units on physiological parameters and pain.

PURPOSE: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study to investigate the effects of music therapy application on physiological parameters and pain in preterm infants." MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preterm newborns included in the study were divided into 3 groups. The first group is experiment I, in which lullabies sung by the babies' own mothers were recorded and played. The second group is experiment II, where lullabies recorded with a standard female vocal for babies are played. The third group is the Control group in which no intervention is applied to the babies. The heart rate and respiratory rate, oxygen saturation level (SpO2) values and pain scores of the groups were measured and compared at different times. RESULTS: Lullaby exposure did not yield significant differences between groups in terms of physiological parameters and pain scores. However, statistical significance was observed in the post-lullaby heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation level, and pain scores of infants in the experimental group (p < 0.05). Significance was consistent across all measurements taken 15 min after the IV intervention. CONCLUSION: Listening to lullabies has beneficial effects on physiological parameters and pain reduction in preterm infants. Integrating lullaby exposure into the regular supportive care of neonatal intensive care unit infants, conducting further studies with more diverse sample groups, and exploring various types of lullabies and music are recommended. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Lullaby during invasive procedures may reduce pain and improve physiologic symptoms in preterm infants. Our findings support the integration of lullabies into the daily supportive care of preterm infants.

Research on music therapy from 2013 to 2022: a bibliometric and visualized study.

Background: Music therapy is a rapidly evolving multidisciplinary field. But there has been no research analyzing the latest research status and development trends in this research field from a macro perspective. We aim to identify hotspots, knowledge base, and frontiers in the field of music therapy through bibliometric analysis. Methods: All data were retrieved from the Web of Science core database from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2022.CiteSpace and Bibliometrix software were employed for bibliometric analysis and visualization analysis. Results: A total of 2,397 articles were included. In the past decade, there has been a consistent increase in the number of publications. The countries and institutions with the largest production in this field are the USA and the University of London. Based on the analysis of the total number of citations, centrality, and production, the results show that the most influential journals are PLoS One and Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Keyword co-occurrence analysis and highly cited study analysis are mainly used to analyze research hotspots in the field of music therapy, while the keyword burst analysis is employed to explore frontiers and potential developmental trends. Hot keywords include "interventions", "anxiety" and "randomized controlled trial". The burst keywords include "validity", "preterm infants", and "mild cognitive impairment". In the ranking of highly cited study, the top ranked studies are "Music-based interventions in neurological rehabilitation" and "Music interventions for improving psychological and physical outcomes in cancer patients". Conclusion: In the past decade, the research focus in music therapy was the effect of music therapy on neurological diseases and the improvement of psychological symptoms such as pain and anxiety. The neurophysiological mechanisms that bring about these therapeutic effects need to be future researched.

Short-term effectiveness of music therapy songwriting for mental health outcomes of at-risk parents in the NICU: a study protocol of an international multicenter mixed-methods trial.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth contributes to adverse mental health outcomes of parents dealing with a premature neonate. The main objective of this study is to determine whether music therapy (MT) songwriting during the infants' stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is superior to standard care in reducing the risk of postpartum depression in high-risk parents of preterm children throughout the hospital treatment. The secondary objectives include assessment of effectiveness of MT in other aspects of mental health (anxiety level, perceived stress, mental wellbeing, coping, resilience). Furthermore, this trial will evaluate the medical and social factors that may be associated with the effects of MT songwriting. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: The study design is a sequential mixed method study with a dominant status QUAN to qual. The quantitative trial was designed as a parallel, multicenter, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial. The qualitative study is a descriptive phenomenological study that seeks to understand the lived experiences of participants exposed to songwriting. Participants are parents of premature infants hospitalized in NICU (106 families) in 5 hospitals, in Colombia and Poland. Intervention: 3 MT songwriting sessions per week across 3 weeks. Primary outcome: the risk of postnatal depression; secondary outcomes: anxiety level, mental wellbeing, resilience, stress, coping. RESULTS: The results will be analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. CONCLUSIONS: This study will provide a report on the effectiveness of MT songwriting on mental health in at-risk parents of preterm infants.

The effects of Iranian traditional music on cervical dilation and labor progress in the active stage of term pregnancy: A nonrandomized controlled trial.

Background and Aims: Childbirth is a multifaceted and distressing event that can profoundly affect mothers' psychological and physical well-being. Noninvasive interventions like music therapy have been explored to improve labor outcomes by decreasing pain and anxiety levels, promoting relaxation, and enhancing maternal-fetal health. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Iranian traditional music on cervical dilation and labor progress in the active stage of term pregnancy. Methods: This study was a nonrandomized controlled trial that included pregnant women between 20 and 35, with a gravidity of two or three. Participants were assigned to either the intervention group, which received traditional Iranian music therapy during labor, or the control group, which received routine care without the music intervention. The primary outcome was the effect of music therapy on cervical dilation from 4 cm to full dilation (10 cm) during term pregnancy. The secondary outcomes included changes in fetal heart rate, maternal anxiety, and pain scores before and after the intervention. Statistical analyses were performed using appropriate methods, and the results were reported using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean age of the intervention group was 28.32 ± 6.13 years, and that of the control group was 28.31 ± 3.47 years (p = 0.890). The median duration of labor was not significantly different during the active stage, with 120 min in the intervention group and 137 min in the control group (p = 0.505). However, significant differences were observed in fetal heart rate, anxiety score, and pain score changes before and after the intervention between the two groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Using traditional Iranian music therapy as a noninvasive intervention during labor can potentially improve maternal and fetal outcomes by reducing anxiety and pain perception. Further research is needed to explore the potential benefits of traditional music therapy in clinical settings.

Comparative efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions for anxiety in adult intensive care unit patients: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The primary goal of the intensive care unit is to the anxiety of conscious patients is often ignored in the care unit. AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of various non-pharmacological therapies for anxiety disorders in adult patients in the intensive care unit, in order to enhance humanistic care in the intensive care unit and to promote the patients' physical and mental recovery together. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a systematic and comprehensive search of the literature in five databases (including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Embase) covering nearly a decade for randomized controlled trials of non-pharmacological therapies to reduce anxiety in adult intensive care unit patients. Two researchers independently assessed the quality of the literature, collected and condensed the data, and used STATA software to perform a network meta-analysis. The ranking probabilities for each intervention were calculated using the Surface under the Cumulative Ranking (SUCRA) method. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO. RESULTS: This study ultimately included 26 randomized controlled trials involving 2791 adult ICU patients. Non-pharmacological interventions for anxiety in adult ICU patients included music therapy, aromatherapy, ICU diary, virtual reality, massage therapy, monitoring room diary, and health education. when compared to the control group (usual care), aromatherapy + music therapy [MD = -2.65, 95% CI (-4.76, -0.54)] (P = 0.0137) and music therapy [MD = -1.77, 95% CI (-3.40, -0.13)] (P = 0.0338) were superior in reducing anxiety in adult ICU patients. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that aromatherapy combined with music therapy significantly alleviated anxiety in adult ICU patients (SUCRA: 99.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Music therapy combined with aromatherapy has demonstrated superior effectiveness compared to other non-pharmacological interventions for reducing anxiety in awake adults in the ICU. However, the underlying mechanisms of this combined therapy require further exploration. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Future research on the use of music therapy combined with aromatherapy in the care unit may help reduce anxiety in patients while fostering their physical and mental healing; however, individual variances and unique clinical circumstances must be considered.

Music therapy in hemodialysis patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) face significant challenges; however, non-pharmaceutical interventions hold potential for enhancing their quality of life. This paper evaluates the effects of music therapy on various mental and physiological outcomes in patients undergoing HD. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive database search conducted up to May 21, 2024, identified studies for inclusion based on PICOS criteria. The methodological quality of these studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and Review Manager 5.4. For the meta-analysis, R and Stata/SE 15.1 were used, applying a random-effects model in cases of significant heterogeneity, and a fixed-effects model when heterogeneity was minimal. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies involving 1703 participants were analyzed. Music therapy significantly decreased anxiety (SMD: -0.72, 95 % CI: -0.97 to -0.46, I²: 83 %), pain (SMD: -1.22, 95 % CI: -1.68 to -0.75, I²: 93 %), depression (SMD: -0.85, 95 % CI: -1.31 to -0.39, I²: 77 %), stress (SMD: -0.93, 95 % CI: -1.17 to -0.68, I²: 41 %), and adverse reactions associated with HD (SMD: -0.67, 95 % CI: -0.88 to -0.46, I²: 0 %), all showing strong effect sizes (p < 0.001 for all). However, no significant changes were observed in sleep quality, fatigue, satisfaction with HD, systolic or diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, or finger temperature. A slight reduction in respiration rate (p = 0.0072) and an increase in oxygen saturation (p = 0.0056) were noted. While music therapy showed promising results, the notable heterogeneity in pain and anxiety outcomes suggests careful interpretation, although no significant publication bias was detected. CONCLUSION: Music therapy has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in improving the well-being of patients undergoing HD, particularly in reducing anxiety, pain, and stress. However, due to notable heterogeneity and methodological issues such as small sample sizes and inconsistent blinding, further high-quality research is needed to confirm these findings and establish more robust evidence.

Study protocol of a randomized control trial on the effectiveness of improvisational music therapy for autistic children.

BACKGROUND: Music therapy is the clinical use of musical interventions to improve mental and physical health across multiple domains, including social communication. Autistic children, who have difficulties in social communication and often increased anxiety, tend to show a strong preference for music, because it can be structured and systematic, and therefore more predictable than social interaction. This makes music therapy a promising medium for therapeutic support and intervention. Previous clinical trials of music therapy compared to traditional therapy for autistic children have shown encouraging but nevertheless mixed results. KEY AIMS: The primary aim is to conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of improvisational music therapy for autistic children and test its effectiveness in at improving social communication and wellbeing, and to reduce anxiety. RESEARCH PLAN: The RCT will be conducted with 200 autistic children in the UK aged 7 to 11 years old. Participants will be randomly assigned to either improvisational music therapy or support as usual. The trial will be an assessor-blind, pragmatic two-arm cluster RCT comparing the impact of 12-weeks of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual, vs. support as usual for autistic children. METHODS: Researchers who are blind to which arm the children are in will conduct assessments and obtain data via caregiver reports. The primary outcome will be the absolute change in the total score of the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC) assessed at baseline, T1 (13 weeks) and T2 (39 weeks) follow-ups. The BOSCC consists of specific items that were developed to identify changes in social-communication behaviours. Secondary outcome measures include: (1) Parent reported anxiety scale for youth with ASD (Note that we do not use the term 'ASD' or Autism Spectrum Disorder, because many autistic people feel it is stigmatising. Instead, we use the term 'autism') (PRAS-ASD) (2) Young Child Outcome Rating Scale, for wellbeing (YCORS), (3) Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); and (4) Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale (VABS). (5) The Children's Communication Checklist-2 (CCC-2) will be completed to evaluate pragmatic speech with fluent speakers only; (6) The Music Engagement Scale (MES); and (7) Assessment of the Quality of Relationship (AQR) will be used to evaluate the child-therapist relationships using video-analysis of music therapy sessions. Additional data will be collected by administering the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II), Music at Home Questionnaire (M@H), and children's versions of the Empathy Quotient (EQ) and Systemizing Quotient (SQ). Audio and video data from the therapy sessions will be collected and analysed (using both human and computer-based feature-coding, e.g., machine learning and AI-driven methods) to identify how music and non-musical interactions foster change throughout the therapy. DISCUSSION: This study aims to observe if the interactions, engagement, and therapeutic modalities fostered during music therapy sessions can translate to non-musical contexts and improve autistic children's social communication skills, identifying possible mediating factors contributing to the effectiveness of music therapy, potentially informing policy making and governance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This randomised control trial is registered with the NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine:  https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?term=NCT06016621 , clinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0601662, Registration Date 19th August 2023.

Impact of Music Therapy on Pain, Stress, and Physiological Parameters Among Postoperative Patients.

Introduction: Post-surgery acute pain is often uncontrolled, causing significant harm to patients, despite improvements in pain management. Music therapy can help to reduce physiological and psychological stress, making it a valuable tool for stress and pain Alleviation. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy on pain, stress, and physiological parameters among postoperative patients. Methods: With 60 samples that matched the inclusion criteria, a quasi-experimental pretest and posttest study methodology was used. Before the music intervention, after the postoperative day 0, and after the intervention on the 7th postoperative day, the physiological parameters for both groups were collected together with the pain score and stress level using a Numerical Rating scale (NRS) and Perceived Stress Scale. Both descriptive and inferential statistics have been used for the data. Result: In comparison to the control group, there was a significant decrease in the study group's mean scores for pain and stress, and found significant changes in physiological variables such as pulse rate, SPO2, respiration rate, and systolic and diastolic BP. Conclusion: Among postoperative patients, music was found to have positive effects on pain, stress, and physiological markers.

The effects of aromatherapy and music on pain, anxiety, and stress levels in palliative care patients.

AIM: Pain and anxiety levels in palliative care patients negatively impact their quality of life, highlighting the need for research on non-pharmacological methods. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of music and aromatherapy interventions on pain, anxiety, and stress levels in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was designed as a single-blind, four-group, randomized controlled trial. The sample consisted of 88 patients hospitalized in a palliative care center (receiving palliative care services with terminal or advanced diseases). Patients were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 22, music, aromatherapy, music and aromatherapy, and control group). Patients in the experimental groups received the intervention to which they were assigned for 20 min each day for three consecutive days: music, aromatherapy, or music accompanied by aromatherapy. No intervention was applied to the control group. The patients' levels of pain, anxiety, and stress were assessed before and after the intervention using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Facial Anxiety Scale (FAS), and the Distress Thermometer. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the demographic characteristics of the groups (p > 0.05). The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank and Kruskal-Wallis tests indicated statistically significant differences in pre- and post-intervention scores for VAS, FAS, and Distress across all experimental groups on all follow-up days (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Implementing music, aromatherapy, and their combination effectively reduced pain, anxiety, and stress levels in palliative care patients, suggesting these non-pharmacological interventions can improve their quality of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrails.gov (Registration number: NCT06024954) at 05-SEP-2024.

Effects of Music Therapy on Postoperative Pain Perception in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgeries Under General Anesthesia: A Prospective Controlled Randomized Comparative Clinical Study.

Background Music therapy has been shown to reduce the need for sedation and analgesics, as well as lower plasma cortisol and epinephrine levels in patients undergoing regional anesthesia. This study evaluates the efficacy of perioperative music therapy in reducing pain perception and its impact on cortisol levels. Materials and methods This prospective randomized control trial was conducted at the tertiary care center in Western Maharashtra. Sixty adult patients (males/females) undergoing elective lower abdomen surgery were included and randomized equally into two groups to listen to music using headphones at a preselected volume (Group M) or to use only headphones without any music played (Group C) for 2 hours in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods. Demographic information, anthropometric (height, weight), and biochemical (serum cortisol) measurements were performed. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grades 1 and 2, and patients aged 18 to 65 years were included. Pain perception was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results The demographic data, including mean age, BMI, ASA status, average duration of anesthesia, and average duration of surgery, were comparable between the two groups. Group M showed improved control of systolic blood pressure (SBP) at 10- and 30-minute post-induction of general anesthesia and had a significantly lower VAS score (p < 0.05). Additionally, patient satisfaction was higher in Group M (81.4%) compared to Group C (51.4%) with a p-value of < 0.05. Intraoperative awareness was non-significant between the groups. Conclusion Music therapy is a safe, cost-effective, and efficacious method for reducing pain perception and can be used in conjunction with other treatments for postoperative pain management.

Transforming anxiety into resilience: A case report on the implementation of "rapid counseling" with single-session music therapy to reduce thesis-related anxiety.

Objective: Thesis writing is considered a difficult task for many Indonesian students, often accompanied by anxiety, stress, depression, and panic. Students who experience academic anxiety will experience maladaptive cognitive, affective, psychological, and behavioral conditions. Currently, mental health counselors/psychologists/psychiatrists/therapists face increasing demands for rapid solutions, reflecting the instant expectation of developing times. Therefore, this study aimed to provide "Rapid Counseling" with single-session music therapy (RC-SSMT) as an intervention service. Method: A case report of a 20-year-old female student experiencing thesis-related anxiety was presented. Results: The result showed the effectiveness of implementing RC-SSMT in reducing the scales of anxiety about thesis. Significance of results: The application of RC-SSMT effectively reduced anxiety in young women, providing an alternative for mental health professionals working with client experiencing thesis-related anxiety.

Effect of music therapy on short-term psychological and physiological outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients: A randomized clinical pilot study.

Background: Elevated anxiety levels are common in patients on mechanical ventilation (MV) and may challenge recovery. Research suggests music-based interventions may reduce anxiety during MV. However, studies investigating specific music therapy techniques, addressing psychological and physiological well-being in patients on MV, are scarce. Methods: This three-arm randomized clinical pilot study was conducted with MV patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Hospital San José in Bogotá, Colombia between March 7, 2022, and July 11, 2022. Patients were divided into three groups: intervention group 1 (IG1), music-assisted relaxation; intervention group 2 (IG2), patient-preferred therapeutic music listening; and control group (CG), standard care. The main outcome measure was the 6-item State-Anxiety Inventory. Secondary outcomes were: pain (measured with a visual analog scale), resilience (measured with the Brief Resilience Scale), agitation/sedation (measured with the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale), vital signs (including heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate), days of MV, extubation success, and days in the ICU. Additionally, three patients underwent electroencephalography during the interventions. Results: Data from 23 patients were analyzed in this study. The age range of the patients was 24.0-84.0 years, with a median age of 66.0 years (interquartile range: 57.0-74.0). Of the 23 patients, 19 were female (82.6%). No statistically significant differences between the groups were observed for anxiety (P=0.330), pain (P=0.624), resilience (P=0.916), agitation/sedation (P=0.273), length of ICU stay (P=0.785), or vital signs. A statistically significant difference between the groups was found for days of MV (P=0.019). Electroencephalography measurements showed a trend toward delta and theta band power decrease for two patients and a power increase on both beta frequencies (slow and fast) in the frontal areas of the brain for one patient. Conclusions: In this pilot study, music therapy did not significantly affect the anxiety levels in patients on MV. However, the interventions were widely accepted by the staff, patients, and caregivers and were safe, considering the critical medical status of the participants. Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the potential benefits of music therapeutic interventions in this population.Trial Registration ISRCTN trial registry identifier: ISRCTN16964680.

Effect of music therapy on anxiety in full-term pregnant women.

Objectives: To examine the impact of receptive music therapy on maternal anxiety both during and after the process of childbirth. Methods: In this experimental study, 217 women were divided into the receptive music therapy and control groups. The first group were exposed to music at intervals of 20 minutes for a duration of 30 minutes during labor. Data were collected using the Pregnant Information Form, the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Visual Analogue Scale and Edinburgh postnatal depression scale. Results: The pregnant women who participated in the music group exhibited reduced scores of STAI, both during the active time (46.42 ± 11.69 vs. 50.21 ± 11.14, 44.37 ± 10.38 vs. 47.56 ± 11.46, P<0.05) and two hours after giving birth(26.32 ± 6.23 vs. 29.55 ± 8.9, 30.38 ± 7.15 vs. 33.08 ± 9.45, P<0.05). At the first stage of labor, pregnant women in the music group experienced dramatically reduced score of pain in active phase (6.39 ± 1.00 vs. 6.91 ± 0.99, P<0.05) and Edinburgh postnatal depression scale at discharged from the hospital (6.68 ± 3.36 vs. 7.66 ± 3.54, P<0.05). Conclusion: Receptive music therapy is effective in reducing pain during labor and anxiety during prenatal and postnatal periods. The use of receptive music therapy in obstetric care can be an effective tool in preventing anxiety-induced complications.

Research progress of music intervention in nursing of premature infants in neonatal intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: With the continuous advancement of medical technology, the survival rate of preterm infants is gradually improving, However, due to the underdeveloped function of various organs and systems, preterm infants are often exposed to light, noise, medical as well as nursing operations and other stimuli during their hospitalization in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); it is highly susceptible to a number of problems, such as pain, unstable vital signs, growth retardation, and sleep disruption. OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the research progress of music intervention in nursing of premature infants in NICU with both traditional and conventional care. METHODS: This article reviews the research background, methodology/design, and measurement/application effects of music interventions, including Chinese and Western traditional music, in the care of preterm infants in NICU. All scholarly literature retrieved from MEDLINE\PubMed, Science Citation Index Expanded, Google scholar, CNKI scholar, Scopus and PubsHub. RESULTS: As a simple and effective non-pharmacological intervention, music intervention can effectively alleviate neonatal surgical pain, increase heart rate and oxygen saturation, promote sleep, growth and development, and improve neurological development. CONCLUSIONS: This review provide theoretical references for clinical practice.