Effects of Music and Relaxation Suggestions on Experimental Pain

Music Listening as a Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Nursing Intervention for Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy Patients: A Randomized Comparative Clinical Trial

PURPOSE

Randomized comparative mixed method approach with qualitative inquiry study's aim sought to determine if there was a difference in pre/post-intervention State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores and postanesthesia pain scores between two music listening groups of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy patients.

DESIGN

Prospective randomized comparative mixed method approach with a qualitative inquiry.

METHODS

Sample size of 77 male participants assigned by a table of random numbers to Spotify patient-preferred music selection Group I (n = 37) or minimalist hypnotic music with guided relaxation breathing (MHMGRB) instructional narrative Group II (n = 40). Outcome measures used patients' STAI questionnaire and reported PACU admission and discharge pain scores.

RESULTS

Both Groups I and II had reduced pain scores at discharge as compared to admission; both groups had a significant reduction (P = .046 Group I, and Group II (P = .002), but changes for comparative groups (I and II) were not significant between the two groups (P = .53).

CONCLUSIONS

Study revealed that both patient-preferred selected music and MHMGRB can meaningfully reduce patients' anxiety and PACU pain scores.

Music-Induced Analgesia in Healthy Participants Is Associated With Expected Pain Levels but Not Opioid or Dopamine-Dependent Mechanisms

Music interventions accommodate the profound need for non-pharmacological pain treatment. The analgesic effect of listening to music has been widely demonstrated across studies. Yet, the specific mechanisms of action have still to be elucidated. Although the endogenous opioid and dopamine systems have been suggested to play an important role, a direct link has not been established. In addition, the involvement of placebo mechanisms is likely while largely unexplored. We examined the analgesic effect of music in healthy participants (n = 48) using a 3 × 3 within-subjects design with pharmacological manipulations and a matched, auditory control for music. Participants were exposed to thermal pain stimuli while listening to three auditory excerpts: music (active condition), nature sound (matched, auditory contextual condition), and noise (neutral control condition). The participants rated their expected and perceived pain levels in relation to each of the auditory excerpts. To investigate the involvement of the endogenous opioid and dopamine systems, the test session was performed three times on separate days featuring a double-blind randomized oral administration of naltrexone (opioid antagonist), haloperidol (dopamine antagonist), and an inactive agent (control). Our results support an analgesic effect of music. Contrary to current hypotheses, neither of the antagonists attenuated the effect of music. Yet, the participants' expectations for pain relief predicted their perceived pain levels during the auditory excerpts—even when controlling for a gradual learning effect. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the analgesic effect of music is at least partially mediated by expectations of an analgesic effect—a core mechanism in placebo effects—but not by opioid and dopamine-dependent mechanisms.

Analysis of the Clinical Effect of Music Combined with Hypnosis on Labor Analgesia Based on Data Mining

The objective of this paper is to study the curative effect of music combined with hypnosis on labor pains during childbirth. Based on the algorithm of data mining, we randomly selected 100 women who delivered babies in obstetric units from October 2020 to June 2021, set the control group and the observation group, obtained the relevant clinical data through comparison, and analyzed the value of music combined with hypnotic analgesia midwifery in obstetrics. The results showed that the number of spontaneous delivery cases in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05) and the delivery time in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). It is proved that music combined with hypnosis can effectively improve the rate of natural childbirth and shorten the overall labor time, so as to guarantee the health of mother and child.

Contemplative Practices and Hypnosis: Emerging Perspectives and Future Directions

A distinctive feature common to many contemplative practices is a focus of attention and procedure of induction toward achieving an altered state of consciousness. In recent years, practices like mindfulness have become increasingly popular, and there has been increased interest in the relationship between hypnosis and mindfulness-based practices as well as other contemplative practices including meditation, music, and spirituality. However, questions remain such as: What are the similarities and differences between hypnosis and mindfulness/other contemplative practices?; What is the role of suggestion in mindfulness-based interventions?; Do some contemplative practices have hypnotic-like aspects in their application?; What is the role of words, images, and intentions in contemplative practices?; Can hypnosis be integrated with music and spiritual practices for beneficial effects? This special issue includes eight articles that provide insights and empirical research into contemplative practices and hypnosis. Emerging perspectives and future directions for research and practice are presented.