Efecto de una intervención de musicoterapia en el estado de ánimo del enfermo crítico

Introduction

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 individualized music therapy intervention compared to standard care and analyze the impact on pain and hemodynamic variables.

Methodology

Randomized, parallel, and open clinical trial. Patients were randomized 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.

Results

A total of 151 patients were included, randomly distributed into the experimental group (n = 75) and the control group (n = 76). Mood improvement was significant in all 6 subscales of the Profile of Mood States questionnaire, 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 experimental group. 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.

Discussion

This clinical trial demonstrates that music therapy, with a personalized 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.