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Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
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Music therapy can lower the heart rates of severely sick children

L Uggla1,2,3, L O Bonde4, B M Svahn5

  • 1Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital-Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. lena.uggla@ki.se.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|April 30, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Music therapy significantly reduced heart rates in children undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT). This intervention shows promise for alleviating stress and potentially lowering the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in these young patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
  • Integrative Medicine
  • Psychoneuroimmunology

Background:

  • Children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) face a heightened risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Effective stress-alleviation strategies are crucial for this vulnerable pediatric population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of music therapy on physiological stress indicators in pediatric HSCT patients.
  • To compare the effects of music therapy versus standard care in children undergoing HSCT.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized clinical pilot study involving 24 pediatric patients (up to 16 years) undergoing HSCT.
  • The intervention group received twice-weekly music therapy (expressive and receptive elements).
  • The control group received standard care; physiological parameters were monitored.

Main Results:

  • Music therapy significantly reduced evening heart rates in the treatment group compared to controls (p < 0.001).
  • The heart rate reduction was sustained for 4–8 hours post-intervention.
  • No significant differences in blood pressure or oxygen saturation were observed between groups.

Conclusions:

  • Music therapy effectively lowers heart rate in pediatric HSCT patients for several hours, indicating reduced physiological stress.
  • This intervention may serve as a valuable tool in mitigating PTSD risk in children post-transplant.
  • Further research into music therapy's role in pediatric transplant care is warranted.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildrenHaematopoietic stem cell transplantationHeart rateMusic therapyPost-traumatic stress disorder

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