Effect of a music therapy intervention on the mood of the critically ill patient

The critically ill patient is in a state of fragility, helplessness, and vulnerability that hinders the communication of their emotions and feelings. Music therapy could be a valid tool to improve mood. The main objective was to evaluate the effect on mood of an individualised music therapy intervention compared to standard care and analyze the impact on pain and hemodynamic variables.

randomised, parallel, and open clinical trial. Patients were randomised into the experimental group, receiving combined music therapy and standard care, or the control group, receiving standard care only. The study population consisted of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with a Glasgow 15-11 T score, excluding those with confusion, agitation, and significant cognitive deficits. The primary variable was mood, assessed using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire. Secondary variables included pain, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation.

A total of 151 patients were included, randomly distributed into the EG (n = 75) and CG (n = 76). Mood improvement was significant in all 6 subscales of the POMS, in the time effect between pre- and post-intervention assessment, and in the time effect by group interaction for Anger (p = 0.020), Fatigue (p = 0.002), Vigor (p = 0.029), and Tension (p = 0.042), indicating that the improvement was related to the music therapy intervention in the EG. Following the music therapy intervention, a decrease in pain (p = 0.024) and heart rate (p = 0.017) was observed in the time effect, and an increase in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.004) was related to the music therapy intervention.

This clinical trial demonstrates that music therapy, with a personalised music intervention, has a positive effect on the mood of critically ill patients. Further lines of research are needed to continue advancing scientific knowledge and develop news forms of assistance to improve mood.