Effects of Alpha Brainwave Music on Sleep Quality, Anxiety, and Depression in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

The study aims to investigate the effects of alpha brainwave music (BWM) on sleep quality, anxiety, and depression in mechanically ventilated patients.

Clinical data from 200 mechanically ventilated patients admitted between January 2024 and December 2025 were retrospectively collected. Patients who received routine mechanical ventilation and airway management were assigned to the control group ( n  = 100), whereas those receiving alpha BWM in addition to routine management were assigned to the BWM group ( n  = 100). Propensity score matching was performed to balance baseline characteristics, yielding 80 matched pairs for outcome analysis. Sleep quality was assessed using the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ), psychological status was evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and polysomnography (PSG) parameters were recorded. In addition, the dosages of sedatives and analgesics during mechanical ventilation were evaluated.

After matching, baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two groups (all standardized mean differences <0.1). Following 7 days of treatment, both groups showed improvements in RCSQ scores, PSG parameters, and HADS scores compared with baseline. Compared with the control group, the BWM group demonstrated significantly higher RCSQ scores, longer total sleep time and rapid-eye-movement sleep duration, shorter sleep onset latency, fewer awakenings, higher sleep efficiency, and a more favorable sleep architecture (all P < 0.05). In addition, HADS-A and HADS-D scores were significantly lower in the BWM group than in the control group (both P < 0.05). The cumulative doses of dexmedetomidine and fentanyl administered during mechanical ventilation were significantly lower in the BWM group than in the control group (both P < 0.05).

Alpha BWM was associated with better sleep quality, improved sleep architecture, lower anxiety and depression scores, and reduced sedative and analgesic requirements in mechanically ventilated patients. As a nonpharmacological intervention, it may represent a useful adjunctive strategy for improving patient care in the intensive care setting.