Effect of single session receptive music therapy on anxiety and vital parameters in hospitalized Covid-19 patients: a randomized controlled trial

Filippo Giordano,Vitaliano Nicola Quaranta,Antonia Losurdo,Loreto Gesualdo,Antonio Daleno,Nicola Brienza,Antonio Moschetta,Nicla Campobasso,Elisiana Carpagnano

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-07085-8

Abstract

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are vulnerable to different degrees of stress disorders as well as depression, anxiety and fear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of introducing Music therapy on site with Covid-19 patients and investigating the immediate effects a single session has on anxiety, heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (O2Sat) and satisfaction compared to standard care. A randomized controlled trial of 40 patients was conducted. Participants were assigned to control group (CG) or the treatment group (MG). MG received an individual single session of music therapy in presence. CG received standard care. MG and CG were subjected to identical measurements (pre-during-post) of the parameters STAI-Y, HR and O2Sat. Participants in MG were asked to fill in an optional open-ended question concerning their experience with music therapy. Significant difference in anxiety levels between scores in MG and CG (34.50 (23.25–40.00) vs 45.00(38, 25–54.00); p = 0.000) was observed. MG compared to CG had statistically significantly higher values of O2Sat (97.50 (96.25–99.00) versus 96.00 (96.00–98.00); p = 0.026). Results show the feasibility of introducing music therapy as a supporting complementary/non-pharmacological intervention on site in Covid-19 patients. A single session of music therapy improves O2Sat and can significantly reduce anxiety.Trial registration: 14/10/2021 No. NCT05077306. https://www.clinicaltrials.cov.

Highlights

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused great public concern[1], unprecedented challenges to health care systems and huge psychological d istress[2]
Music Therapy is defined as the systematic use of musical experiences aimed at achieving therapeutic goals by a trained music therapist and implies the establishment of a relationship between patient, music and Music therapist, while Music Medicine (MM) is considered as passive listening to pre-recorded music provided to the patient by a nurse or other medical staff[8]
Patients in MG compared to control group (CG) had comparable values of age, sex, P/F ratio (300.56 ± 101.89 vs 267.40 ± 94.65; p = 0.293), use of CPAP or NIV (15% vs 20%; p = 0.500) (Table1)

Summary

Introduction

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused great public concern[1], unprecedented challenges to health care systems and huge psychological d istress[2]. Hospitalized patients are extremely isolated from their families for a long and uncertain period of time[3] They remain in an undefined mental space left to wonder if this is a temporary separation or a step towards d eath[4] which could take place without family or loved ones by their side[5]. This traumatic separation makes patients vulnerable to different degrees of stress disorders as well as depression and anxiety[6], fear of the unknown and dying, sleeplessness, agitation, discomfort, pain, immobility, frustration and inability to r elax[7]. There are no studies of music therapy application on-site with Covid 19 patients

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