The Therapeutic Trio

The journal article titled “The Effects of Music Assisted Relaxation on Preoperative Anxiety” sought to describe the effects that music had on calming 20 pediatric burn patients between the ages of 8 and 20 who were preparing to undergo surgery. The purposes of this study were to determine whether or not there was a significant decrease in anxiety scores and physiological indications of stress following Music Assisted Relaxation interventions prior to surgery.

This article seeks to shed light on a different aspect of musical therapy’s potential to affect people in need of recovery and discusses the idea that not only can music be used to improve medical, physical, emotional and psychological health, but it is also used to calm people down prior to an operation. Before people undergo surgery, they experience anxiety due to emotional and physical distress as well as thoughts of fear, pain, and even potential death.

This experiment was prompted by past advancements n the field of music therapy in which many studies were carried out in order to demonstrate the effects of music on an individual’s physiological and emotional state in anxiety-causing situations. In a study conducted by Kaempf and Amodei, individuals who underwent arthroscopic surgery experienced a significant decrease in respiration rate, systolic blood pressure, and anxiety scores when being exposed to music listening interventions. In a similar study, Moss found patients who received music listening interventions had a significant decrease in their anxiety scores and experienced less of an increase in heart rate that the patients who did not receive music intervention. Additionally, Ralph Spintge compared groups of patients who received anxiolytic music as treatment with patients who received traditional psychopharmacologic treatments and concluded “music influenced all levels of the emotion ‘anxiety’ by reducing the need for drugs such as sedatives, analgesics, and anesthetics by 50% of the usual dosage” (Robb).

The aforementioned studies aptly convey the beneficial effects of music listening and relaxation interventions for anxiety management, and although it has long been known that music produces behavioral, emotional and physiological changes, research is now focusing on what characteristics of music are responsible for affecting the mind and body in such specific ways. It has been determined that slow to moderate tempos that are at or below a resting heart rate of 60 beats per minute are most beneficial, as well as a smooth, flowing rhythm without sudden changes. In addition, melodies that are slow and sustained as well as low pitches that promote relaxation and elicit soft music are key in decreasing heart rate and conductance level.

The study that this particular journal addresses was designed to examine the effects of a music assisted relaxation program on the physiological and emotional status of pediatric burn patients undergoing a surgical procedure. In terms of the experimental group, music assisted relaxation (MAR) interventions were presented to patients in the evening prior to surgery in order to familiarize the patients with the instruments that would be used the following morning prior to surgery. The following morning, the subjects were asked to get comfortably settled, the lights were dimmed, and music was played free field at an accommodating volume. The registered music therapist (RMT) lead the subject “through deep diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and imagery, which was used during breathing and muscle relaxation portions of the session, as well as ending with an imaginary trip that had been described by the subject the evening prior to interventions. On the way to the operating room and while undergoing anesthesia, subjects listened to music through headphones and the RMT served as a transitional figure that offered emotional support through the explanation of environment as well as supportive touch. In terms of the control group, patients received preoperative interventions that were normally given to all patients in hospitals and did not receive MAR interventions or music listening during any portion of their surgical experience.

The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of MAR intervention in decreasing anxiety and the scores revealed a significant decrease in anxiety from the pre to posttest period of the experimental group (p=.0082), while no significant difference was observed in the control group.  Results of the study show that subjects who received MAR interventions preoperatively experienced a significant decrease in anxiety, as measured by the state portion of the STAIC. When compared with subjects who had not received these interventions, MAR subjects revealed significantly lower anxiety scale scores, and patients even revealed that they experienced less anxiety, were better able to relax and sleep, and if given the opportunity, would use MAR for future surgeries.

Although physiological measures of heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, and temperature showed no significant change from the pre to post intervention, a slight decrease in heart rate was seen for the experimental group. However, this study did succeed in conveying the benefits and effectiveness of MAR interventions preoperatively to manage stress and anxiety. The effects that were observed and proven included decreased perceived anxiety, increased relaxation, increased coping strategies, and emotional support to the patient and his/her family.