The effect of music therapy on background pain, anxiety, depression, vital signs, and medication usage in adult burn patients in the Intensive Care Unit: A randomized controlled trial

Journal

Burns: Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries

Year

2025

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Burn patients often experience pain and mental health difficulties in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This study investigated the effects of live Music-Assisted Relaxation (MAR) on background pain, mental health, vital signs, and medication administration in adult ICU burn patients. METHOD: This was a randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms: standard care + up to six MAR interventions over two weeks, versus standard care alone. Participants were 82 adult ICU burn patients. Primary outcome was perceived background pain. Secondary outcomes were anxiety and depression levels, vital signs, and pain medication usage. Additionally, nine patients participated in electroencephalography, electrocardiography, and electromyography recordings during MAR. RESULTS: Results showed that background pain was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group after MAR sessions 1 and 2, with a large effect for patients reporting severe pain. Time had a significant effect on both anxiety and depression, but this was unrelated to the treatment condition. No differences were found for vital signs or pain medication administration. Analysis of electrophysiological signals during MAR revealed significant changes in delta, theta, beta, and alpha frequency bands during electroencephalography, a significant decrease of the low/high-frequency ratio of the tachogram, and significant decrease of mean frequency of facial electromyography. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that music therapy might be effective in reducing background pain during the early stages of hospitalization and specifically for patients with severe pain. Further multicenter studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm these results. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov, Identifier: NCT04571255.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Pain; Mental Health; Burns; Receptive Music Methods; Music and Relaxation; Music in Combination with Other Techniques; Music Therapy; Anxiety; Depression; Medication Use; Vitality; Pain Management and Control; Hospital Setting; Intensive Care Unit (ICU); Subjective Measures; Physiological Measures

Indexed Terms

Elderly; Analgesics; Anxiety; Burn patients; Burns; Depression; Electrocardiography; Electroencephalography; Electromyography; Intensive Care Unit (ICU); Intensive Care Units; Mental health; Pain; Pain Management; Pain Measurement; Relaxation Therapy; Vital Signs

Study Type

Randomized Controlled Trial; Quantitative Methods

PubMed ID

PMID: 40602276

Document Type

Article

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