Effect of music therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Introduction: Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), there are different innovative approaches to improve or enhance the recovery of brain. Musical therapy has shown promising results in better improvement of TBI patients. Such studies from our country are meager. The present study investigates the effect of musical therapy on TBI patients who have undergone brain surgery. Methodology: It is a prospective study conducted at Tertiary Hospital at Nellore. Moderate-to-severe brain injury patients who have undergone neurosurgery were selected. Three Indian classical ragas were selected and given as follows; Hindola in the morning, Todi in the afternoon, and Kalyani in the evening. The mp3 music was given over earphones at specific time for 30 min duration throughout a week. Vitals parameters such as heart rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP), respiratory rate, pupillary movement, and motor activity of patients were documented before and after music therapy. The SPSS version 20.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Ten selected patients were undergone through predefined session for three times a day with consecutive 7 days. Mean age of the patients was 48.5 (23–71 years) and majority (90%) were male. Two hundred and ten responses of each, like this for ten patients, heart rate changes were observed in 77% with mean change of 0.92 units. On average, 5.20 units heart rate was decreased and 6.20 units increased after music therapy. Changes in SBP were observed in 63%with mean change of 1.36 units. About 9.10 units were lower and 10.95 units were higher after therapy. Nearly 64% responses of patients were changed for respiratory rate, with mean change of 0.13 units. On an average of 3.00 units, respiratory rate was decreased, and 4.22 units increased after musical therapy. Conclusion: The present study reports that musical therapy for TBI patients after neurosurgery has an important role in changing the vitals parameters such as respiratory rate, heart rate, and SBP. Detail prospective studies with larger number of patients are required to get in-depth knowledge on effect of musical therapy.