How the Mind and Body Communicate (part XIV)

The previous post showed that music can have a great impact on the relief of pain. Now we will take a look at

Music and Aging

As we get older it seems our immune system is showing wear and tear and can be greatly impaired. To be more specific, NK-cell function is lessened. Natural killer cells or NK-cell count were significantly increased in Alzheimer's-, cerebrovascular-, and Parkinson's disease through music therapy. Changes in NK-cell count was independent of neurodegenerative disease.(1)

Furthermore, music therapy proofed to be of value in treating or managing dementia symptoms.(2) A new study backed these findings with the conclusion that mellowing music markedly reduced physically non aggressive but agitated behaviors in the elderly.(3)

Now, as promised, let us take a look at a controlled study conducted on 50 (fifty) surgeons who listened to music during surgery, measuring their task performance. Skin conductance, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, and task speed and accuracy were evaluated while performing a serial subtraction stressor task. Three treatment conditions were set up:

1. Self-selected music
2. Experimenter selected music
3. No music

Outcome: All physiologic measures of stress were significantly lower for the surgeon selected music condition. The speed and accuracy of tasks were remarkably higher, juxtaposed to experimenter selected music.(4) Should you find yourself in the unpleasant position of an operating table with local anesthesia, and the surgeon cranks up the stereo to: The Essential Barry Manilow Live, think twice before slamming the stereo against a wall.

Music therapy During Surgical or Treatment Procedures

In a very systematic appraisal of the research on music therapy to date, the researcher investigated the effects of music in adult hospitalized patients.(5) The authors of the study came to the drew the following conclusions:

Positive effects of music:
1. Reduces anxiety in patients receiving normal care.
2. Reduces respiratory rate in hospital patients.
3. May reduce the need for sedation or analgesia during procedures.
4. Improves mood of hospital patients.

No effects of music on:
1. No reduction of anxiety during actual delivery of invasive or unpleasant procedure.
2. Does not reduce heart rate during actual delivery of invasive or unpleasant procedure.
3. Does not alter pain perception, however, may improve patient tolerance during procedures.
4. Has no impact on postoperative length of stay.

An appropriate summary would state that: music therapy merits attention during the pre- and peri-operative, critical, and normal care periods for hospitalized patients. It seems that music is less called for during delivery of painful procedures, however, patient's needs for less narcotic analgesia may proof music to be a very helpful diversionary strategy for pain.(6)

Should you find yourself in the peculiar situation of being in a hospital, do yourself a favor and stock up on quality music. With the prices they are charging for pain killers and analgesia you might just save a bundle of money? When you do save that money, I am sure it will be enough to buy your Barry Manilow loving surgeon a couple of front row tickets to the next concert.

Beste Gesundheit,

Werner

1. Hasegawa Y. et al. Music Therapy Induced Alterations in Natural Killer Cell Count and Function. Nippon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. (2001):38:201 (abstract)
2. Koger S., Brotons M. Music Therapy for Dementia Symptoms. Cochrane Database Systematic Review. CD001121. (2000)
3. Remington R. Calming Music and Hand Massage with Agitated Elderly. Nurs Res 51(5). (2002):317
4. Allen K., Blascovich J. Effects of Music on Cardiovascular Reactivity Among Surgeons. JAMA 272(11). (1994):882
5. Evans D. The Effectiveness of Music as an intervention for Hospital Patients: A Systematic Review. J Adv Nurs 37(1). (2002):8
6. White J. State of Science of Music Interventions: Critical Care and Perioperative Practice. Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am 12(2). (2000):219