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. 2018 Mar 5:2018:9683780.
doi: 10.1155/2018/9683780. eCollection 2018.

Effects of Tibetan Music on Neuroendocrine and Autonomic Functions in Patients Waiting for Surgery: A Randomized, Controlled Study

Antonella Cotoia  1 , Floriana Dibello  1 , Fiorenzo Moscatelli  2 , Alberto Sciusco  3 , Pietro Polito  4 , Alberto Modolo  5 , Crescenzio Gallo  2 , Giuseppe Cibelli  2 , Gilda Cinnella  1
Affiliations

Effects of Tibetan Music on Neuroendocrine and Autonomic Functions in Patients Waiting for Surgery: A Randomized, Controlled Study

Antonella Cotoia et al. Anesthesiol Res Pract. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of listening to Tibetan music on anxiety and endocrine, autonomic, cognitive responses in patients waiting for urologic surgery.

Methods: Sixty patients waiting for surgery were enrolled to the study. They were randomized in music (M) and control (C) groups. The M group listened to a low-frequency Tibetan music for 30 min (T0-T30) through headphones, and the C group wore headphones with no sound. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire (STAI) Y-1 was administered at T0 and T30. Normalized low (LFnu) and high frequencies (HFnu) of heart rate variability, LF/HF ratio, and galvanic skin response (GRS) data were analyzed at T0, T10, T20, T30, and T35. The salivary α-amylase (sAA) samples were collected at T0, T35, and T45.

Results: In the M group, the STAI Y-1 score decreased at T30 versus baseline (p < 0.001), sAA levels decreased at T35 versus T0(p=0.004), and GSR remained unchanged. In the C group, the STAI Y-1 score remained unchanged, sAA level increased at T35 versus T0(p < 0.001), and GSR slightly increased at T35 versus baseline (p=0.359). LFnu was lower, and HFnu was significantly higher (T10-T30) in M versus C group. Mean LF/HF ratio slightly reduced in the M group.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that preoperative listening to relaxing Tibetan music might be a useful strategy to manage preoperative anxiety.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Timeline of the study procedure: State Trait Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire (STAI); Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS); heart rate variability (HRV); galvanic skin response (GSR).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flowchart of patients' enrollment.
Figure 3
Figure 3
State Trait Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire score. State Trait Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire (STAI Y-1) score in the music group (M group) and control group (C group) at T0 and T30. Data are presented as mean ± SD; +,∗p < 0.001.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Salivary α-amylase levels (U/ml). Salivary α-amylase levels (U/ml) in the music group (M group) and control group (C group) at T0, T35, and T45. Data are presented as mean ± SD. ∗p < 0.001.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Galvanic skin response. Galvanic skin response (µS) in the music group (M group) and control group (C group) at different time point. Data are presented as mean ± SD. +p=0.031 and ∗p < 0.045.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Heart rate variability. (a) Normalized low frequency (LFnu), (b) normalized high frequency (HFnu), and (c) LF/HF ratio in the music group (M group) and control group (C group) at each time point. Data are presented as mean ± SD. ^p=0.042, +p=0.007, and ∗p=0.021.
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