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Background: The primary goal of the intensive care unit is to the anxiety of conscious patients is often ignored in the care unit. Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of various non‐pharmacological therapies for anxiety disorders in adult patients in the intensive care unit, in order to enhance humanistic care in the intensive care unit and to promote the patients' physical and mental recovery together. Study Design: We conducted a systematic and comprehensive search of the literature in five databases (including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Embase) covering nearly a decade for randomized controlled trials of non‐pharmacological therapies to reduce anxiety in adult intensive care unit patients. Two researchers independently assessed the quality of the literature, collected and condensed the data, and used STATA software to perform a network meta‐analysis. The ranking probabilities for each intervention were calculated using the Surface under the Cumulative Ranking (SUCRA) method. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO. Results: This study ultimately included 26 randomized controlled trials involving 2791 adult ICU patients. Non‐pharmacological interventions for anxiety in adult ICU patients included music therapy, aromatherapy, ICU diary, virtual reality, massage therapy, monitoring room diary, and health education. when compared to the control group (usual care), aromatherapy + music therapy [MD = −2.65, 95% CI (−4.76, −0.54)] (P = 0.0137) and music therapy [MD = −1.77, 95% CI (−3.40, −0.13)] (P = 0.0338) were superior in reducing anxiety in adult ICU patients. The results of the network meta‐analysis showed that aromatherapy combined with music therapy significantly alleviated anxiety in adult ICU patients (SUCRA: 99.8%). Conclusions: Music therapy combined with aromatherapy has demonstrated superior effectiveness compared to other non‐pharmacological interventions for reducing anxiety in awake adults in the ICU. However, the underlying mechanisms of this combined therapy require further exploration. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Future research on the use of music therapy combined with aromatherapy in the care unit may help reduce anxiety in patients while fostering their physical and mental healing; however, individual variances and unique clinical circumstances must be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For over 50 years, music therapy and breathing exercises have been widely utilized as interventions to help individuals cope with fatigue, stress and pain globally. Aim: To analyse the effects of music and breathing exercises on anxiety and pain in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Study Design: This is a single‐blind, randomized controlled trial. The sample comprised 165 patients: 55 in the control group, 55 in the breathing exercise group and 55 in the music therapy group. Patients in the music group listened to music during angiography, those in the breathing exercise group practised exercises 30 min before the procedure and the control group received standard treatment. Anxiety levels were assessed before and after the procedure, and pain levels were measured post‐procedure. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist for reporting randomized trials was used to guide reporting. Results: Anxiety scores rose significantly in the control group from 33.9 ± 4.2 pre‐angiography to 37.7 ± 4.9 post‐angiography. Conversely, the breathing group's anxiety scores decreased from 34.3 ± 3.5 before angiography to 31.7 ± 1.5 after angiography, and the music group exhibited a reduction from 32.3 ± 3.6 to 30.8 ± 1.6. Post‐angiography, the control group reported a mean pain score of 64 ± 0.8 mm, while the breathing and music groups had significantly lower scores of 35 ± 0.6 and 29 ± 0.8 mm, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a highly significant difference in pain scores between the intervention and control groups. Conclusions: This study provides support for the beneficial effects of employing breathing exercises and music in alleviating pain and anxiety during coronary angiography procedures. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Integrating these findings into clinical practice could be significant for improving patients' pain experiences and anxiety, enhancing the tolerance of invasive medical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Method Results Interpretation To determine the evidence for functional outcomes experienced by a population with paediatric neurodisability (such as acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, and other neurological disorders), who access music therapy through neurorehabilitation services across the rehabilitation spectrum.Using scoping review methodology of the JBI and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR), a systematic search was conducted across eight databases and expert knowledge users were consulted. Articles were screened by title and abstract, and data from eligible studies were categorized using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: Children and Youth version (ICF‐CY).From 1726 records identified, 53 eligible primary sources were included in the synthesis. Most literature (n = 30) related to children and adolescents with an acquired or traumatic brain injury. Physical function was the most frequently reported outcome across sources (n = 27), followed by communication (n = 25), social (n = 22), cognitive (n = 17), emotional (n = 13), psychological (n = 13), behavioural (n = 8), and sensory (n = 5).Evidence for functional outcomes experienced by children and adolescents accessing music therapy as part of their neurorehabilitation is limited. More than half of the included sources were clinical descriptions with small samples. High‐quality studies involving children, adolescents, families, and interprofessional teams are needed to identify the most effective music therapy methods and techniques for functional outcomes in paediatric neurodisability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To improve mechanistic understanding, this randomized controlled trial examined anxiety, mood, emotional support, and pain‐related self‐efficacy as mediators of music therapy for pain management in people with advanced cancer. Methods: People with advanced cancer who had chronic pain were randomized (1:1) to 6 weekly individual music therapy or social attention control sessions. We measured mediators and pain outcomes (pain interference and pain intensity) using self‐report measures at baseline, session 4, and post‐intervention. We included outcome expectancy/treatment credibility, music reward, adult playfulness, and baseline pain interference and pain intensity as moderators. Results: Participants (n = 92) had a mean age of 56 years. Most were female (71.7%), white (47.8%) or Black (39.1%), and had stage IV cancer (75%). Self‐efficacy was found to be a significant mediator of music therapy for pain intensity (indirect effect ab = 0.79, 95% CI 0.01–1.82) and pain interference (indirect effect ab = 1.16, 95% CI 0.02–2.51), while anxiety, mood, and emotional support were not. The mediating effect of pain‐related self‐efficacy was significantly moderated by baseline pain interference but not by the other moderators. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the impact of music therapy on chronic pain is mediated by self‐efficacy. This knowledge can help optimize music therapy interventions for chronic pain management for people with advanced cancer by capitalizing on teaching music‐based self‐management strategies. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03432247 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lifestyle interventions are strategies used to self‐manage medical conditions, such as epilepsy, and often complement traditional pharmacologic and surgical therapies. The need for integrating evidence‐based lifestyle interventions into mainstream medicine for the treatment of epilepsy is evident given that despite the availability of a multitude of treatments with medications and surgical techniques, a significant proportion of patients have refractory seizures, and even those who are seizure‐free report significant adverse effects with current treatments. Although the evidence base for complementary medicine is less robust than it is for traditional forms of medicine, the evidence to date suggests that several forms of complementary medicine including yoga, mindfulness meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy, diet and nutrition, exercise and memory rehabilitation, and music therapy may have important roles as adjuncts in the treatment armamentarium for epilepsy. These topics were discussed by a diverse group of medical providers and scientists at the "Lifestyle Intervention for Epilepsy (LIFE)" symposium hosted by Cleveland Clinic. Plain Language Summary: There are many people with epilepsy who continue to have seizures even though they are being treated with medication or brain surgery. Even after seizures stop, some may experience medication side effects. There is research to suggest that certain lifestyle changes, such as yoga, mindfulness, exercise, music therapy, and adjustments to diet, could help people with epilepsy, when used along with routine treatment. Experts discussed the latest research at the "Lifestyle Intervention for Epilepsy (LIFE)" symposium hosted by Cleveland Clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the methodological quality and evidence level of the existing systematic reviews (SRs) on music as an intervention for depression have not been thoroughly evaluated, a systematic evaluation and re‐evaluation (SERE) was conducted. Methods: Multiple databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, SinoMed, Wanfang, and the VIP database were searched for SRs and meta‐analyses (MAs) on the effectiveness of music as an intervention for depression. The literature screening, evaluation of methodological quality, and assessment of evidence level were carried out by a team of researchers. The methodological quality was evaluated using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) scale in accordance with the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria were utilized to assess the level of evidence. Results: A total of 18 SRs were included in the analysis. The 2020 PRISMA guidelines were utilized to evaluate various aspects such as search terms, funding sources, statistical methods for missing values, subgroup and sensitivity analyses, certainty assessment, excluded literature citations, assessment of publication bias, protocol information, conflicts of interest, and data availability, which were rarely reported. The evaluation of the studies using the AMSTAR 2 scale revealed that one article was rated as high quality, six were rated as low quality, and 11 were rated as very low quality. Based on the GRADE criteria evaluation, the quality of the evidence was found to be inconsistent, with reports primarily consisting of medium‐quality evidence. Conclusion: The methodological quality of SRs/MAs of music as an intervention in depression is generally poor, and the level of evidence is generally low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Childbirth is a multifaceted and distressing event that can profoundly affect mothers' psychological and physical well‐being. Noninvasive interventions like music therapy have been explored to improve labor outcomes by decreasing pain and anxiety levels, promoting relaxation, and enhancing maternal–fetal health. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Iranian traditional music on cervical dilation and labor progress in the active stage of term pregnancy. Methods: This study was a nonrandomized controlled trial that included pregnant women between 20 and 35, with a gravidity of two or three. Participants were assigned to either the intervention group, which received traditional Iranian music therapy during labor, or the control group, which received routine care without the music intervention. The primary outcome was the effect of music therapy on cervical dilation from 4 cm to full dilation (10 cm) during term pregnancy. The secondary outcomes included changes in fetal heart rate, maternal anxiety, and pain scores before and after the intervention. Statistical analyses were performed using appropriate methods, and the results were reported using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean age of the intervention group was 28.32 ± 6.13 years, and that of the control group was 28.31 ± 3.47 years (p = 0.890). The median duration of labor was not significantly different during the active stage, with 120 min in the intervention group and 137 min in the control group (p = 0.505). However, significant differences were observed in fetal heart rate, anxiety score, and pain score changes before and after the intervention between the two groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Using traditional Iranian music therapy as a noninvasive intervention during labor can potentially improve maternal and fetal outcomes by reducing anxiety and pain perception. Further research is needed to explore the potential benefits of traditional music therapy in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Few studies have explored music therapy (MT) in an acute aged care inpatient setting. We aimed to assess feasibility and patient/staff perceptions of an 8‐week MT program on an acute geriatric ward. Methods: An 8‐week in‐person MT program, comprising brief receptive musical interventions up to twice‐weekly. All patients admitted to the aged care ward were eligible for inclusion. A hard copy survey was used to assess patient and staff perceptions of MT. Themes raised in free‐text responses were manually coded within a thematic analysis approach. A mixed methods approach was used to obtain and analyse data relating to feasibility and patient and staff perceptions of the MT intervention. Results: The 8‐week program ran to completion and was delivered to a median of 11 patients (IQR 9–12) each session (median 8 new/day). In total, 10 patients completed surveys, mean age 81.1 (SD 7.7); 60% were women and all had cognitive impairment. Following an MT session, eight of eight responding patients reported feeling happy and eight of eight reported they would recommend MT. Staff respondents (n = 19) reported patients appeared happy (19/19), relaxed (13/19) and all would recommend MT to other patients. Common themes were that MT was followed by improved patient behaviour and mood, and stimulated patients. Conclusions: An acute aged care inpatient MT program proves feasible and well‐received by staff and patients. Future research may focus on more robust data collection in larger sample sizes, specific types of MT and more in‐depth exploration of the patient and carer experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have focused on the negative effects of anger on driving performance, but insufficient research has addressed intervention methods to reduce these emotional effects. This research investigated how music mitigates the deterioration of driving performance associated with angry emotions in a simulated car‐following task. Forty‐three licensed drivers participated in this study, and they were randomly separated into two groups: an intervention group and a control group. First, all the participants completed a car‐following task involving neutral arousal. Then, both groups completed the car‐following task after the anger arousal task. The intervention group drove while listening to relaxing music, but the control group did not. Driving performance and electrocardiographic data were recorded. The results showed that participants who listened to relaxing music had significantly shorter braking reaction times and greater heart rate variability (HRV) than did those who did not listen to music. Relaxing music can reduce driving anger and improve driving behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document explores the use of arts and psychomotor therapies in the treatment of personality disorders (PDs). PDs are patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating to others that cause distress and impairment. While traditional talk therapy can be helpful, it may not fully address symptoms and functioning. Arts and psychomotor therapies, such as art, dance, drama, and music therapy, can be used alongside traditional therapy to improve mental health. These therapies have been shown to reduce distress, improve emotional regulation, and enhance social functioning. While more research is needed, arts and psychomotor therapies show promise in the treatment of PDs. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The role of patients in healthcare research is slowly evolving, although patient roles in the research process are limited. This paper reports on a patient‐led research project aiming to develop a musical hearing training programme for patients with a cochlear implant (CI): the Musi‐CI programme. A CI is an inner ear prosthesis that allows people with severe hearing loss to hear. However, while speech can be understood, CI users cannot fully enjoy music or feel aversion to it. The Musi‐CI programme aims to reduce this music aversion to ultimately improve music enjoyment and social participation. The development of the Musi‐CI programme was supported by a consortium of professionals in CI rehabilitation and research. The aim of this paper is to describe and evaluate the Musi‐CI programme development process and its impact on professional CI rehabilitation and research. Methods: Programme development was described using a 3‐layered process model of action research, distinguishing the CI user process, the healthcare professional process and the research process. To evaluate perceptions on the programme development process, consortium partners provided written comments and participated in a reflexive evaluation session that was video‐recorded. Reflexive evaluation aims for collective learning and strengthening collaboration among participants. Written comments and video data were analysed using template analysis. Results: The involvement of an expert by experience was perceived as challenging but rewarding for all consortium partners, opening up new perspectives on CI‐rehabilitation practice and research. Data analysis revealed two themes on the programme development process, professional space and acknowledgement, and two themes on the outcomes on CI rehabilitation and research: critical reflection and paradigm shift. Conclusion: Experts by experience represent a different knowledge domain that may contribute to change in rehabilitation and research. Patient or Public Contribution: The development of the programme was initiated by a professional musician and CI user who organized the funding, had a leading role throughout the research process, including the write‐up of the results, and co‐authored this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, music therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has been proven effective in physiological and psychological outcomes, including sucking, behaviour, stress reduction, neurodevelopment and promoting emotional bonding. However, not every NICU administers music therapy in their ward. Research on music therapy for neonates and their caregivers has lately accumulated, increasing the evidence of health benefits on brain development and across a variety of NICU‐related pathologies, including neurological, cardiological, pulmonary and gastrointestinal problems. Conclusively, we will present the studied methods of music therapy for clinical benefits in neonatal intensive care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia is characterized by a progressive decline in cognition, behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD), and quality of life (QoL). The lack of curative therapies has led to a psychosocial discourse prioritizing QoL of people thriving with dementia (PTD). Group reminiscence therapy (RT) is a relatively inexpensive intervention, with music prompts being a preferred choice, owing to robust musical memory in the early disease stage. However, a synthesis of current evidence is needed to inform research and clinical use of group music RT in dementia care. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review on PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, and APA PsycArticles to critically appraise published randomized controlled trials examining group music RT to improve cognition, BPSD, and QoL in PTD. Of 14,725 articles, two RCTs involving 102 PTD were included. All studies used prerecorded music for group music RT. All studies were deemed of good quality, adhering to intention‐to‐treat analysis and assessor blinding. Based on the American Academy of Neurology guidelines, we assigned a Level C recommendation for group music RT for cognition and Level B recommendations for BPSD and QoL (ineffective). In conclusion, group music RT may be useful for symptomatic management in PTD. However, heterogeneous study designs, disease severity, dementia subtype, and outcome measures are likely barriers to meaningful clinical translation. Therefore, the rating of recommendations only serves as a point of reference. Future avenues include live performances as prompts for group music RT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with personality disorders (PDs) are often difficult to reach emotionally in therapy. As music therapy (MT) provides an entry point to emotions and facilitates contact and communication, it is regularly used with this target group. This study presents a case study of a 40‐year‐old woman diagnosed with a PD not otherwise defined. "Nina" experienced depressive and physical symptoms, including severe anxiety. Previous treatments had failed. In MT, she experienced a sense of safety. Over the course of the treatment, she experimented with making herself heard, learned to listen to herself and recognize her own physical signals, permitted closeness and cooperation, and began setting boundaries and taking initiative. She got in touch with and learned to regulate emotions such as sadness and fear. Self‐criticism gave way to a more compassionate self. Nina began to experience positive feelings and showed progress in her work and social interactions. The findings suggest that MT can directly connect to clients' emotions, behaviors, and thoughts in a way they perceive as safe. This is of the utmost importance for clients who are hard to reach. The use of MT can potentially prevent dropout and further entrapment in personality problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although existing studies have shown that both repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and music therapy have advantages in the treatment of non‐fluent aphasia, the efficacy of the combination of these two methods remains to be investigated. Aims: To investigate the clinical efficacy of low‐frequency rTMS combined with music therapy on language function and depression in patients with non‐fluent aphasia after stroke. Methods & Procedures: A single‐blind parallel randomised controlled trial was conducted. Sixty patients (mean duration = 93.78 days) with non‐fluent aphasia after stroke were randomly divided into a traditional therapy group (n = 20), a music therapy group (n = 20) and a combined therapy group (n = 20, 1 Hz). The language function and depression were evaluated before and 3 weeks after treatment with the Chinese version of the Western Aphasia Battery scale, Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination scale and Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire Hospital Version scale. Outcomes & Results: The combined therapy group was significantly better in all outcomes than the traditional therapy group and was significantly better in depression than the music therapy group. The music therapy group was significantly better in repetition and depression than the traditional therapy group. Language improvement was positively correlated with depression improvement. For adverse events, only two patients in the combined therapy group showed slight dizziness during rTMS treatment and their symptoms improved after rest. Conclusions & Implications: Our preliminary randomised controlled study indicates that low‐frequency rTMS combined with music therapy is feasible and safe in improving language function and depression in non‐fluent aphasia patients after stroke. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and music therapy respectively have advantages in the treatment of non‐fluent aphasia after stroke, but whether the combination of the two methods is more effective is still unknown. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge: This is one of the first randomised control trials to investigate whether the clinical efficacy of low‐frequency rTMS combined music therapy for non‐fluent aphasia is better. The findings show that low‐frequency rTMS combined music therapy is superior to traditional therapy in spontaneous speech, auditory comprehension, repetition, naming, aphasia quotient, functional language level and depression, and superior to music therapy in depression, while music therapy is superior to traditional therapy in repetition and depression. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Low‐frequency rTMS combined music therapy may be a better method for treatment of non‐fluent aphasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate brain activation and functional network patterns during musical interventions in different frequency bands using functional near‐infrared spectroscopy, and to provide a basis for more effective music therapy strategy selection for patients in minimally conscious state (MCS). Twenty six MCS patients and 20 healthy people were given music intervention with low frequency (31–180 Hz), medium frequency (180–4k Hz), and high frequency (4k–22k Hz) audio. In MCS patients, low frequency music intervention induced activation of left prefrontal cortex and left primary sensory cortex (S1), also a left‐hemisphere lateralization effect of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). And the functional connectivity of right DLPFC‐right S1 was significantly improved by high frequency music intervention. The low frequency and high frequency music may contribute more than medium frequency music to the recovery of consciousness. This study also validated the effectiveness of fNIRS in studies of brain function in MCS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore whether music intervention improves the quality of life (QOL) of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and to evaluate its impact on patients' symptoms of depression/anxiety and fatigue. Methods: This systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The databases PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and EMBASE were searched from inception to September 30, 2022. The search strategy used a combination of the keywords "music" and "hematopoietic stem cell transplantation" or "HSCT." The outcomes assessed were QOL, depression and anxiety, and fatigue. Pooled standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to compare the outcomes between the music intervention and control groups. Heterogeneity across the studies was assessed using a chi‐square‐based test, and the I2 and Q statistics. Results: Meta‐analysis of the included study population showed that music intervention for patients undergoing HSCT was associated with patients' improved QOL, and resulted in reduced depression/anxiety and fatigue compared to patients without music intervention. Conclusion: Music intervention benefits HSCT outcomes, including better QOL, less depression/anxiety, and less fatigue postoperatively. Future trials with larger samples are still warranted to strengthen the evidence supporting the benefits of music intervention in this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of binaural beat music (BBM) on sleep quality, heart rate variability, and depression in older people with poor sleep quality in a long‐term care institution. Methods: A single‐blind randomized controlled trial design was employed, and 64 older participants with poor sleep quality were recruited from a long‐term care institution in Taiwan. Participants were randomized into the BBM group or control group and received 14 days of intervention. During the intervention period, participants in the experimental group listened to 20 min of Taiwanese Hokkien oldies embedded with BBM once in the morning and afternoon three times a week. Participants in the control group only listened to Taiwanese Hokkien oldies. Questionnaires and heart rate variability analysis were used to assess participants' sleep quality, heart rate variability, and depressive symptoms. Results: Significant improvements were observed in sleep quality, along with an increase in heart rate variability means of heart rate and normal sinus beats, and a decrease in low‐frequency normalized units and depression severity in the BBM group after the intervention. In the control group, effects on sleep quality were inconsistent, heart rate variability showed significant improvements in some autonomic nervous function regulation, and depression severity was significantly decreased. Furthermore, the BBM group showed a significant improvement in sleep quality and a significant reduction in sympathetic nervous activity compared with the control group. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that 14 days of BBM intervention, a non‐invasive intervention, could improve sleep quality and depression in older people with poor sleep quality in long‐term care institutions. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 297–304. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The experience of stress is common among surgeons while working in the operating theatre (OT). Understanding and finding ways to mitigate this stress is important for optimizing surgical quality and maintaining clinician wellbeing. In this pilot study, we tested the feasibility and reported the outcomes of measuring the effect of background music on intra‐operative surgeon stress in the clinical environment. Methods: The effect of Music on the Operating Surgeon: A pilot Randomized crossover Trial (the MOSART study) was conducted over a 9‐month period in a single‐centre. Vascular and general surgeons acting as primary operators (POs) performing elective, general anaesthetic operations were included. The intervention was surgeon‐selected music, and the control was the absence of music. Outcome measures were feasibility (recruitment rate, practicability, and completeness of data), heart rate variability (HRV) indices, the Six‐Item State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI‐6), and the Surgical Task‐load Index (SURG‐TLX). Results: Five POs performed 74 eligible randomized cases. The protocol was well tolerated, and no cases were abandoned. Data was incomplete in 8% of cases. The overall mean (SD) operative SURG‐TLX score was 48 (±22). Mean HR increased and RMSSD decreased significantly from baseline, suggesting reduced parasympathetic activity while operating. The presence of intra‐operative music was not found to affect the psychological or physiological outcomes. Conclusions: A music interventional study of this nature is feasible in the operating theatre environment, though no difference was found between in the music and non‐music conditions. Follow‐up research in a simulated environment with intensive physiological monitoring could be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interactive engagement, specifically attention and initiation, are considered important skills for facilitating development and learning in students with severe/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Prior research has suggested that music therapy and multisensory storytelling are two promising interventions for supporting interactive engagement in this population. However, there are no known/published studies that have investigated the effect of combining relevant elements from musical interaction and multisensory storytelling for this group of students. This study aims to determine the effect of a novel educational approach—MultiSensory Music Drama (MSMD)—on the interactive engagement of students with severe/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Methods: A single‐case experimental design, specifically an ABAB design across three participants, was used to describe the effect of MSMD on interactive engagement when compared with a control activity. School staff members' perceptions of student interactive engagement and social validity were obtained. Findings: Coded video observations showed significantly higher levels of interactive engagement during MSMD for all three participants when compared to the control activity. Furthermore, the ratings on the interactive engagement from school staff members improved for two of the three participants. Finally, school staff members scored the social validity and perceived educational usefulness of the MSMD as very high. Conclusions: The findings provide initial evidence that MSMD may be effective in supporting the interactive engagement of some students with severe/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Accessible summary: Engagement in activities is important for development and learning.Many people enjoy music activities and taking part in storytelling.In this study, a combination of music, drama and sensory stimulation was tested with three students with intellectual and multiple disabilities.The activity was engaging for the students and was positively viewed by their teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to identify and map the production of knowledge on non‐pharmacological strategies to reduce stress and anxiety in patients undergoing endovascular procedures. Design: Scoping review. Methods: The review was performed using the PRISMA‐ScR guidelines. The searches were conducted in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, BVS/BIREME, Lilacs, Gale Academic OneFile, SciELO, Cochrane Library, CAPES Catalog of Dissertations and Theses, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Portal of Theses and Dissertations, and Theses and Dissertations from Latin America. Results: Twenty‐two articles were selected. The articles were published from 2001 to 2022, mostly in Iran, and there was a predominance of randomized clinical trials. The Spielberger State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory was the most used instrument. The findings indicated that music therapy, educational guidelines or videos on the procedure, massage, psychological preparation and aromatherapy were the main non‐pharmacological therapies used to reduce anxiety and stress in patients undergoing vascular procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An area of increasing interest continues to be the interaction between music therapy and its impacts on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and wound repair in patients who have experienced trauma. This study intended to quantify the effect of music therapy on ANS regulation and wound healing. A cross‐sectional observational study from March to December 2023 was undertaken involving 500 trauma patients. A control group received standard care, and an experimental group received daily 30‐min music therapy sessions. Heart rate variability (HRV), cortisol levels, wound healing rates and patient‐reported outcomes regarding pain, tension and well‐being were among the critical parameters assessed. After 1 month, the experimental group exhibited a statistically significant rise in HRV (p < 0.05), suggesting increased parasympathetic activity. The experimental group exhibited a significant decrease in cortisol levels in comparison to the control group, with notable reduction observed after 1 month (p < 0.05). At 9 months, the experimental group exhibited significantly faster wound healing than the control group, with 85% wound recovery as opposed to 75% in control group. There was notable decrease in pain and stress scores at all time intervals in the music therapy group, with the greatest reduction occurring at the 9‐month mark (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) was identified between the number of completed music therapy sessions and patient outcomes, with individuals attending more than 20 sessions experiencing 33.6% positive outcomes. In trauma patients, music therapy substantially enhanced ANS regulation and accelerated wound healing. As evidenced by the elevated HRV and decreased cortisol levels, the therapy induced a physiologically tranquil state that is conducive to recovery. The considerable enhancements in the rates of wound healing, in conjunction with the substantial decreases in pain and tension levels, highlighted the therapeutic capacity of music therapy as intervention in trauma care. Additionally, the observed dose–response relationship indicated that customised music therapy regimens are crucial for achieving the best possible results for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dementia care in South Africa faces challenges including a paucity of published research, a prevalent medical model in healthcare, and inadequate caregiver training. Music is a meaningful psychosocial intervention in dementia care, yet its application is not always safe and effective. A training protocol was codesigned to enhance caregivers' delivery of person‐centred care through attuned, live singing. Objectives: This study explored the acceptability and caregivers' experiences of a person‐centred caregiver singing (PCCS) protocol in South Africa. Methods: A PCCS workshop was applied at seven aged care homes in Cape Town, South Africa. Forty‐one formal caregivers adhered to inclusion criteria and consented to attend one workshop on PCCS. Mixed methods data collection was obtained from questionnaires containing a Likert scale and written reflections. Quantitative data were analysed through nonparametric tests and narrative descriptions, and qualitative data through thematic content analysis. Findings were integrated deductively using seven components of acceptability. Results: Findings converged to show caregivers' positive experiences, highlighting observed improvements in residents' wellbeing, caregivers' capabilities, empathic connection, and person‐centred care beyond the one‐on‐one. Caregivers' limited song repertoire and residents' unpredictability hindered implementation, however, the skills acquired appeared useful and applicable. Conclusions: Integration of findings suggests the acceptability of PCCS as caregivers experienced PCCS as a helpful, easy‐to‐implement intervention that contributes to their delivery of person‐centred care. Further research focused on caregiver self‐efficacy, empathy, and caregivers' own personhood is needed as well as determining the most effective strategies to ensure maximum uptake and sustainability in the sector. Patient or Public Contribution: Formal caregivers participated in this study, both attending the training and implementing the singing protocol with residents in their care at their respective care homes. The people living with dementia residing at the care home were recipients of the singing protocol but not included as participants in the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial research has supported using musical stimuli as an ergogenic aid before and during various forms of exercise. Researchers have demonstrated that music shifts attention from associative to dissociative, decreases perceived effort and discomfort, and increases arousal and pleasantness in longer‐duration, low‐to‐moderate‐intensity exercises. Strength training is shorter in duration and higher in intensity than aerobic or muscular endurance training. Limited research has examined the effects of music on strength performance and psychological outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the tempo of self‐selected music on isokinetic knee extension and flexion performance, effort, discomfort, attention, arousal, and pleasantness in resistance‐trained young adults. Thirty resistance‐trained college‐aged adults completed three exercise testing sessions. In a randomized, counterbalanced order, a repeated measures design was used to expose the participants to three conditions (fast music, slow music, and no music). The Biodex isokinetic dynamometer and standardized psychological Likert‐style scales were used to measure concentric maximum effort knee extension and flexion torque at 60°/s and psychological variables, respectively. This study found that music improves knee extension torque but not knee flexion in resistance‐trained young adults. In addition, music or the tempo of music did not influence any psychological outcomes during isokinetic strength testing. Therefore, listening to music is not detrimental to performance or psychological outcomes, but this study provides minimal support for music's use as an ergogenic aid during strengthening exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effortful control (EC), a self‐regulation skill, is associated with long‐term developmental outcomes. Music has been associated with infant self‐regulation and may be an intervention strategy for enhancing EC during toddlerhood. This investigation included 32 parent‐child dyads from a previously conducted randomized controlled trial (RCT). Participants (9‐15‐months old at baseline) attended either a music enrichment program or a playdate control once a week for 1 year and monthly for an additional year. At age 3, participants completed snack and gift delay effortful control tasks. Groups were compared using one‐way ANOVA. We found that participants in the music group had a significantly higher score during snack delay (music mean = 3.47 ± 0.94; control mean = 2.45 ± 1.51; p = 0.03; Cohen's d = 0.84). We did not find a significant group difference for latency to peek (music mean = 39.10 ± 20.10; control mean = 30.90 ± 19.88; p = 0.25; d = 0.57) or latency to touch (music mean = 105.73 ± 417.69; control mean = 98.35 ± 28.84; p = 0.38; d = 0.29) for the gift task. This study provides initial evidence that early participation in a music enrichment program may benefit later development of EC. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02936284). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music and psychedelics have been intertwined throughout the existence of Homo sapiens, from the early shamanic rituals of the Americas and Africa to the modern use of psychedelic‐assisted therapy for a variety of mental health conditions. Across such settings, music has been highly prized for its ability to guide the psychedelic experience. Here, we examine the interplay between music and psychedelics, starting by describing their association with the brain's functional hierarchy that is relied upon for music perception and its psychedelic‐induced manipulation, as well as an exploration of the limited research on their mechanistic neural overlap. We explore music's role in Western psychedelic therapy and the use of music in indigenous psychedelic rituals, with a specific focus on ayahuasca and the Santo Daime Church. Furthermore, we explore work relating to the evolution and onset of music and psychedelic use. Finally, we consider music's potential to lead to altered states of consciousness in the absence of psychedelics as well as the development of psychedelic music. Here, we provide an overview of several perspectives on the interaction between psychedelic use and music—a topic with growing interest given increasing excitement relating to the therapeutic efficacy of psychedelic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of 26 randomized controlled trials involving 1,165 participants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) found that music therapy has positive effects on global improvement and quality of life immediately after therapy, as well as a reduction in autism symptom severity. However, there was no clear evidence of a difference in social interaction, verbal communication, and non-verbal communication between music therapy and placebo or standard care. The studies primarily focused on children and young adults, with limited research on adults. The optimal dose of therapy and long-term effects are still uncertain. It is unclear whether the reported benefits are due to the music therapy itself or other elements of the interaction. Further research is needed to understand the key therapeutic elements and to demonstrate the effectiveness of music therapy using consistent outcome measures. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Inclusive research advocates for the involvement of people with intellectual disabilities to be more than passive participants within the research process. Methods: This study used a participatory design with proxies to consult with 13 people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities, on their musical preferences. Four instrumental listening tracks were created for consideration. The expected outcome was that people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities would contribute to the codesign and development of a Musical Play framework. The study took place in England. Findings: Proxy reports suggested that elements of music such as the tempo, tonality and instrumentation influenced the participants' responses. Responses were mixed across all tracks, indicating that the musical preferences of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities are variable and individualised. Conclusion: Further exploration of how people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities can contribute to inclusive research is recommended. Accessible summary: Everyone should have the chance to contribute to research.It is difficult for people with profound disabilities to contribute to research.Using creative research methods and involving a parent/carer can support people with profound disabilities to contribute to research.By using an online listening experience some people with profound disabilities could contribute their experiences to research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music can be interpreted by attributing syntactic relationships to sequential musical events, and, computationally, such musical interpretation represents an analogous combinatorial task to syntactic processing in language. While this perspective has been primarily addressed in the domain of harmony, we focus here on rhythm in the Western tonal idiom, and we propose for the first time a framework for modeling the moment‐by‐moment execution of processing operations involved in the interpretation of music. Our approach is based on (1) a music‐theoretically motivated grammar formalizing the competence of rhythmic interpretation in terms of three basic types of dependency (preparation, syncopation, and split; Rohrmeier, 2020), and (2) psychologically plausible predictions about the complexity of structural integration and memory storage operations, necessary for parsing hierarchical dependencies, derived from the dependency locality theory (Gibson, 2000). With a behavioral experiment, we exemplify an empirical implementation of the proposed theoretical framework. One hundred listeners were asked to reproduce the location of a visual flash presented while listening to three rhythmic excerpts, each exemplifying a different interpretation under the formal grammar. The hypothesized execution of syntactic‐processing operations was found to be a significant predictor of the observed displacement between the reported and the objective location of the flashes. Overall, this study presents a theoretical approach and a first empirical proof‐of‐concept for modeling the cognitive process resulting in such interpretation as a form of syntactic parsing with algorithmic similarities to its linguistic counterpart. Results from the present small‐scale experiment should not be read as a final test of the theory, but they are consistent with the theoretical predictions after controlling for several possible confounding factors and may form the basis for further large‐scale and ecological testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We tested the feasibility of a future randomised clinical trial (RCT) in which Creative Music Therapy (CMT), a family‐integrating individualised approach in neonatal care, could improve neurodevelopment in extremely preterm infants (EPTs). Methods: In this feasibility trial, 12 EPTs received CMT, while the remaining 19 received standard neonatal care. Socio‐demographic data and perinatal complications were compared between groups as risk factors. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development at 2‐year follow‐up (FU2) and KABC‐II‐Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children at 5‐year follow‐up (FU5) were analysed using the Mann–Whitney U‐tests. Results: Twenty‐seven (87.1%) and 18 (58.1%) EPTs attended the FU2 and FU5 examination, respectively. The rate of neurodevelopmental risk factors at birth of the two groups was quite similar. While there was no difference in the FU2 outcomes between groups, there were higher values in the CMT group's Fluid‐Crystallised Index of the KABC‐II. Conclusion: Our results indicate neither a beneficial nor a detrimental effect of CMT on neurodevelopment at 2 years but a trend of improved cognitive outcomes at 5 years more similar to cognitive scores of term‐born infants than of standard treatment EPTs. The findings favour an RCT but must be interpreted cautiously due to the reduced sample size and non‐randomised design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the protocol for an evidence and gap map. The objectives are as follows: To map available randomized control trials, economic evaluations, and systematic reviews that assess the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of non‐pharmacological interventions for older people with a diagnosis of depression and identify any existing gaps in the evidence that can inform future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery may experience psychological complications, which can increase mortality. This review aims to explore the efficacy of music therapy as an intervention to reduce anxiety pre‐ and post‐operatively in CABG surgery. Design: This was a quantitative systematic review registered in PROSPERO (REDACTED). Methods: This review used the PECOD framework to identify quantitative questions. We systematically searched seven electronic databases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, PsycArticles, and PsycInfo) for articles published between 1 January 1992 and 13 July 2022. Studies were critically appraised, and the results of this systematic review yielded a narrative summary of the findings. Results: Four randomized control trials and one quasi‐experimental study published in English were included in the review. Narrative analysis indicated that patients undergoing CABG who were assigned to the group receiving music therapy reported significantly reduced anxiety levels compared with controls who did not listen to music. In addition, music therapy can effectively be used as a non‐pharmacological intervention to manage anxiety pre‐ and post‐operatively in CABG surgery. No members of the public or patients were involved in the design or conduct of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the making of clinical care by tracing how music therapists integrate their work within North American hospitals. Situated on the margins of the clinic, music therapists are in pursuit of clinical recognition—to be perceived and understood as valuable to biomedicine. The pursuit of clinical recognition illustrates how the configuration of care is an aesthetic concern, negotiated not only through processes of reasoning and rationalization but also through sensory‐affective experiences. Music therapists cultivate a clinical aesthetic to their care by demonstrating clinical efficacy to their medical colleagues and self‐fashioning clinical subjectivities through participation in medical rounds and charting. While clinical recognition creates conditions of possibility for music therapists to provide care in biomedical institutions, recognition is perpetually elusive for hospital music therapists. By cultivating sonic atmospheres and connections, music therapists disrupt and exceed a normative clinical aesthetic, illustrating ways of caring in the clinic beyond biomedical scripts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hospitalization may have a major impact on older patients as it is often a period of psychosocial vulnerability. Music is one of the most described art forms used in healthcare. Applied in clinical settings, it can affect a patients' emotional and psychosocial well‐being. Incorporating a wider perspective of health promotion that aims to advance not only physical health, but a patients' overall well‐being, is part of a person‐centred approach to care. We developed an innovative participatory music practice in which professional musicians and music therapists visited patients at their bedside for 10–15 min in a Dutch and Austrian hospital. This qualitative study explores the added value of live bedside music practice for older hospitalized patients in Austria and the Netherlands. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted between October 2020 and February 2022 with 23 hospitalized patients aged ≥60 years. Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, the music sessions in Austria were facilitated by establishing a live connection between musicians and patients using a tablet. Data were transcribed verbatim and performed qualitative content analysis following the steps of thematic analysis. The COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) checklist was applied to report data collection, analysis and results. Results: Four themes emerged from the data analysis. Participants described the perceived influences of live bedside music in terms of (1) emotional release, (2) positive distraction, (3) alterations in contact and (4) shared humanity. Overall, participants positively valued the live bedside music practice and expressed a desire for its continuation. Conclusion: This study explores the experiences and the added value of live bedside music for older hospitalized patients. By facilitating distraction and emotional release and enhancing nurse–patient interactions, live bedside music can significantly improve hospital experiences for older patients. Results reveal that live bedside music provides a positive patient experience and can be part of integrative and holistic care for hospitalized older patients. Live bedside music can attend to the emotional needs of older patients which are often under addressed in clinical settings but are crucial for enhancing their well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Procedural anxiety is a concern for a number of patients undergoing radiation therapy. While procedural anxiety is often treated pharmacologically, there is a clinical need for effective alternative strategies for patients who are contraindicated from medication use, and those who prefer not to take unnecessary medications. Objectives: The primary objective was to assess the efficacy of nonpharmacological interventions delivered to adults with cancer, in the radiation oncology department, just prior to, or during radiation therapy, in reducing levels of self‐reported procedural anxiety. The secondary objectives were to assess the efficacy of these interventions in reducing physiological symptoms of procedural anxiety and anxiety‐related treatment disruptions. Design: Systematic review. Data Sources: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched from inception up until February 2022. Inclusion Criteria: Population: Adult patients with cancer undergoing external beam radiation therapy. Intervention: Nonpharmacological interventions delivered within the radiation therapy department. Comparison: standard care controls, or standard care plus an alternative intervention. Outcomes: level of self‐reported procedural anxiety (primary), physiological symptoms of anxiety (secondary) and measures of anxiety‐related treatment disruptions (secondary). Data Extraction and Analysis: Two reviewers independently extracted data. A meta‐analysis was originally planned but deemed not feasible as the studies could not be confidently pooled for meta‐analysis, due to the variability in the interventions, study designs and the generally low number of studies. Therefore, a narrative synthesis is presented. Results: Screening of 2363 records identified nine studies that met inclusion criteria: six studies of music interventions, two of video‐based patient education and one of aromatherapy. Overall, three studies received a global rating of strong methodological quality and low risk of bias. Three studies reported a significant effect of the intervention on reducing the primary outcome of self‐reported procedural anxiety: two music interventions (both strong methodological quality), and one video‐based patient education (moderate methodological quality). One of the studies (a music intervention) also reported a significant reduction in the secondary outcome of physiological symptoms of procedural anxiety (systolic blood pressure). Conclusions: The evidence for nonpharmacological interventions delivered to adults with cancer just prior to, or during radiation therapy, in reducing levels of self‐reported procedural anxiety is limited, with very few well‐designed studies. There is a need for interventions for procedural anxiety during radiation therapy to be evaluated through rigorous randomised controlled trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of an attachment-based intervention program (ABIP) on attachment, prenatal expectation and stress levels in pregnant women. Methods: This randomized controlled study was conducted in the pregnant outpatient clinics of a public hospital in Turkey. The study sample consisted of a total of 154 pregnant women (77 experimental, 77 control) at 28--38 weeks of gestation. The ABIP was applied to the pregnant women in the experimental group for 5--7 days. The ABIP included five interventions: (1) perceiving/counting fetal movements; (2) music therapy; (3) preparation for the baby; (4) writing notes/ letters to the baby; and (5) watching images of the fetus/pregnancy. Results: After the ABIP, pregnant women in the experimental group had higher prenatal maternal attachment and prenatal positive expectation mean scores than those in the control group, and the difference between them was statistically significant in favor of those in the experimental group (P < .001). In addition, pregnant women in the experimental group had lower prenatal negative expectation and prenatal distress mean scores than those in the control group, and the difference between them was statistically significant in favor of those in the experimental group (P < .001). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that ABIP is a unique and pioneering program to increase maternal-antenatal attachment and prenatal positive expectations and reducing prenatal negative expectations and distress through diverse interventions. However, further research is required to assess the effectiveness of ABIP on maternal-fetal attachment, prenatal maternal expectations, and prenatal distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Familial risk for developmental dyslexia can compromise auditory and speech processing and subsequent language and literacy development. According to the phonological deficit theory, supporting phonological development during the sensitive infancy period could prevent or ameliorate future dyslexic symptoms. Music is an established method for supporting auditory and speech processing and even language and literacy, but no previous studies have investigated its benefits for infants at risk for developmental language and reading disorders. We pseudo‐randomized N∼150 infants at risk for dyslexia to vocal or instrumental music listening interventions at 0–6 months, or to a no‐intervention control group. Music listening was used as an easy‐to‐administer, cost‐effective intervention in early infancy. Mismatch responses (MMRs) elicited by speech‐sound changes were recorded with electroencephalogram (EEG) before (at birth) and after (at 6 months) the intervention and at a 28 months follow‐up. We expected particularly the vocal intervention to promote phonological development, evidenced by enhanced speech‐sound MMRs and their fast maturation. We found enhanced positive MMR amplitudes in the vocal music listening intervention group after but not prior to the intervention. Other music activities reported by parents did not differ between the three groups, indicating that the group effects were attributable to the intervention. The results speak for the use of vocal music in early infancy to support speech processing and subsequent language development in infants at developmental risk. Research Highlights: Dyslexia‐risk infants were pseudo‐randomly assigned to a vocal or instrumental music listening intervention at home from birth to 6 months of age.Neural mismatch responses (MMRs) to speech‐sound changes were enhanced in the vocal music intervention group after but not prior to the intervention.Even passive vocal music listening in early infancy can support phonological development known to be deficient in dyslexia‐risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As faculty members, we should support students who want to engage in music research, either in our own labs or in collaboration with music researchers - even if one has never studied music before - and we should encourage the development of our own departments, in terms of the courses we offer and the people we hire. When psychologist Sandra Trehub passed away in January 2023, many of her colleagues noted her role in putting music on psychologists' radar - especially research on music in development. The evidence is all around us all: just look in your pocket (where a device is available that plays music) or at your credit card bill (where you've likely spent money on music) or at your children's education (which likely includes music). A bright future for developmental science on music We see this Special Issue as an existence proof for the vitality, breadth, and importance of music as a core domain of research in developmental science. [Extracted from the article]

The benefits of active music participation and training for cognitive development have been evidenced in multiple studies, with this link leveraged in music therapy approaches with clinical populations. Although music, rhythm, and movement activities are widely integrated into children's play and early education, few studies have systematically translated music therapy‐based approaches to a nonclinical population to support early cognitive development. This study reports the follow‐up effects of the Rhythm and Movement for Self Regulation (RAMSR) program delivered by generalist preschool teachers in low socioeconomic communities. This randomized control trial (RCT) involved 213 children across eight preschools in disadvantaged communities in Queensland, Australia. The intervention group received 16–20 sessions of RAMSR over 8 weeks, while the control group undertook usual preschool programs. Primary outcome measures included executive function (child assessment of shifting, working memory, and inhibition) and self‐regulation (teacher report), with secondary outcomes of school readiness and visual‐motor integration. Data were collected pre‐ and post‐intervention, and again 6 months later once children had transitioned into school. Results demonstrated significant intervention effects across the three time points for school readiness (p = 0.038, ηp2 = 0.09), self‐regulation (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.08), and inhibition (p = 0.002 ηp2 = 0.23). Additionally, the feasibility of building capacity in teachers without any music background to successfully deliver the program was evidenced. These findings are important given that children from low socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to need support for cognitive development yet have inequitable access to quality music and movement programs. Research Highlights: Initial effects of self‐regulation from a rhythm and movement program were sustained following transition into school for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.Delayed effects of inhibition and school readiness from a rhythm and movement program appeared 6 months post‐intervention as children entered school.Generalist teachers can successfully implement a rhythm and movement program, which boosts critical developmental cognitive skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Veterans living with dementia in long‐term care have complex needs, with variable manifestation of symptoms of dementia that interact with their lived experience. Best practice dementia care prioritises nonpharmacological interventions; of which few have strong evidence. Implementation of evidence is complex, with evaluation of outcomes and processes necessary. Aims and Objectives: This paper details the evaluation of implementation, at veteran and organisational level, of the Weaving Evidence into Action for Veterans with Dementia (WEAVE) programme. Methods: A Type 2 hybrid effectiveness‐implementation design was used, underpinned by the Implementation Framework for Aged Care (IFAC). Programme intervention incorporated music therapy, exercise, reminiscence therapy and/or sensory modulation, offered over a 24‐week period. Evaluation components included: (1) programme effectiveness for veterans with dementia for responsive behaviour, physical wellbeing, cognitive status, emotional state, medications and falls (at baseline, 8‐week, 16‐week and 24‐week); and (2) implementation outcomes of reach and adoption, feasibility and acceptability, fidelity (via interviews) and a preliminary cost analysis. Results: Thirty‐eight veterans participated in the 24‐week programme, with high levels of engagement in interventions of their choice. Statistically significant improvements were seen across all veteran‐level outcome measures, for functional capacity and reduced neuro‐psychiatric and depressive symptoms. Ten staff members were interviewed, highlighting co‐designed core elements were feasible and acceptable, and the momentum generated by resident and staff enthusiasm. Cost analysis included costs of programme set‐up and running the 24‐week intervention. Conclusion: Key components of programme success were the therapeutic leaders, adherence to core elements of programme design, and veterans' choice in meaningful activity. Cost analysis supports deliberations for upscale across further care homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite the known benefits of music therapy (MT) and its potential applications in an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF), there remains a lack of access to MT in a significant number of hospitals in the United States. Exploration of stakeholder (e.g., physician, therapist, and patient) perceptions as a potential barrier to uptake has been limited. Objective: To assess the favorability of patients admitted to an IRF toward MT through the domains of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. We hypothesized that patient domain scores would reflect a favorable perception of MT across rehabilitation diagnoses. Design: Descriptive and cross‐sectional survey. Setting: Free‐standing, acute IRF. Patients A total of 119 English‐speaking, adult patients across three impairment categories (general rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, and brain injury) were recruited over a 3‐month period and during each patient's hospital stay. Intervention: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: A modified version of the Global Complementary/Alternative and Music Therapy Assessment (GCAMTA) measured the domains of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. Results: An overall response rate of 79.3% was achieved. Most patients (n = 95; 79.8%) scored in either the favorable or neutral ranges of the instrument. Age correlated negatively (r = −0.193, p <.05) with total score, whereas highest level of education correlated positively (rs = 0.222, p <.05). There were no significant differences in scores across impairment categories (V = 0.068, p =.232). Knowledge scores, controlling for education and age, predicted 30.4% of the variance in attitudes and beliefs scores (R2 = 0.304, p <.001). Conclusions: It is unlikely that patient perceptions are a barrier to MT uptake. Younger, more educated patients have higher knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about MT. Increasing patient knowledge about MT may improve their attitudes and beliefs, thereby further optimizing this therapy for widespread use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As with typically developing children, children with cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder develop important socio‐emotional rapport with their parents and healthcare providers. However, the neural mechanisms underlying these relationships have been less studied. By simultaneously measuring the brain activity of multiple individuals, interbrain synchronization could serve as a neurophysiological marker of social–emotional responses. Music evokes emotional and physiological responses and enhances social cohesion. These characteristics of music have fostered its deployment as a therapeutic medium in clinical settings. Therefore, this study investigated two aspects of interbrain synchronization, namely, its phase and directionality, in child–parent (CP) and child–therapist (CT) dyads during music and storytelling sessions (as a comparison). A total of 17 participants (seven cerebral palsy or autism spectrum disorder children [aged 12–18 years], their parents, and three neurologic music therapists) completed this study, comprising seven CP and seven CT dyads. Each music therapist worked with two or three children. We found that session type, dyadic relationship, frequency band, and brain region were significantly related to the degree of interbrain synchronization and its directionality. Particularly, music sessions and CP dyads were associated with higher interbrain synchronization and stronger directionality. Delta (.5–4 Hz) range showed the highest phase locking value in both CP and CT dyads in frontal brain regions. It appears that synchronization is directed predominantly from parent to child, that is, parents and music therapists' brain activity tended to influence a child's. Our findings encourage further research into neural synchrony in children with disabilities, especially in musical contexts, and its implications for social and emotional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the well‐being of children has been widely discussed, yet research‐exploring strategies aimed at improving this in school‐based settings is still an emerging field of research. This mixed methods study investigated the impact of a singing intervention on the subjective well‐being of a class of 27 children aged 8–9. Over the course of 2 weeks, the class took part in 20 minutes of daily group singing with a focus on learning popular music that they chose. The sessions were delivered by a generalist primary teacher who had previously worked as a music specialist. In measuring children's subjective well‐being with emphasis on life satisfaction, the 'Student's Life Satisfaction Scale' was administered to the children pre‐ and post‐intervention. Of the 27 children, four (identified as disadvantaged) were interviewed as part of a focus group at the end of the intervention and questions centred around the children's opinions and enjoyment of the intervention. Results indicated that there was a much lower proportion of children with low subjective well‐being scores after the intervention than before the intervention (as measured by the SLSS questionnaire). Analysis of the Likert scale data showed a 'medium' (d = 0.5) effect size. Thematic analysis of the focus group revealed that singing had a broadly positive effect on the well‐being of those children, which is consistent with findings found in similar trials involving adults. Links to the theoretical framework of 'flow' by Csikszentmihalhi (1975) are drawn, alongside the PERMA well‐being framework model (Seligman, 2012) to help explain the effects of being engrossed in an enjoyable activity such as group singing and how this in turn can impact subjective well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Studies examining the long‐term effects of neonatal music interventions on the cognition of children born preterm are scarce. We investigated whether a parental singing intervention before term age improves cognitive and language skills in preterm‐born children. Methods: In this longitudinal, two‐country Singing Kangaroo, randomised controlled trial, 74 preterm infants were allocated to a singing intervention or control group. A certified music therapist supported parents of 48 infants in the intervention group to sing or hum during daily skin‐to‐skin care (Kangaroo care) from neonatal care until term age. Parents of 26 infants in the control group conducted standard Kangaroo care. At 2–3 years of corrected age, the cognitive and language skills were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. Results: There were no significant differences in cognitive and language skills between the intervention and control groups at the follow‐up. No associations between the amount of singing and the cognitive and language scores were found. Conclusion: Parental singing intervention during the neonatal period, previously shown to have some beneficial short‐term effects on auditory cortical response in preterm infants at term age, showed no significant long‐term effects on cognition or language at 2–3 years of corrected age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim was to (1) examine the feasibility aspect of a music intervention, (2) examine the association between music and pain, relaxation and well‐being and (3) explore patients' experience of listening to music while waiting for acute surgery. Design: The design was a mixed‐method study. Methods: Participants were offered a music pillow for 30 min. Before and after the intervention, participants reported their pain, relaxation and well‐being using a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to10. The qualitative part was based on field observation followed by a semi‐structured interview. Results: The quantitative part included 30 participants. The Wilcoxon signed‐rank test showed a positive significant association between music and pain, relaxation and well‐being (p < 0.001). The qualitative part included 15 participants. Two themes derived from the analysis: (1) feelings of physical and mental well‐being and (2) a break from the acute preoperative context. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Evidence suggests that individualized music listening (IML) can effectively reduce the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). So far, however, studies have been primarily based on questionnaire measures of BPSD completed by proxy. We therefore investigate effects of IML on BPSD based on systematic observation. We address the methodological limitations of previous observational studies by using a validated instrument, time‐based sampling, and longitudinal analytical methods. Methods: We compared BPSD of nursing home residents with dementia in an IML intervention group (IG; n = 44) and a control group (CG; n = 46) in a randomized controlled trial (DRKS00013793; ISRCTN59052178). Trained raters observed 18 BPSD in 15 four‐minute intervals before, during and after an IML session. We used t‐tests to compare BPSD in the IG and CG before, during and after the session and piecewise latent curve modelling to compare BPSD trajectories across 1 hour. Results: BPSD were observed less frequently in the IG than in the CG during, but not before or after the session. Likewise, whereas the CG experienced a stable trajectory of BPSD, the IG experienced a u‐shaped trajectory characterized by stability before the session, a decrease during the session, and increase after the session. There was significant interindividual variability in baseline BPSD and in the pre‐ and post‐session slopes. Discussion: Our results provide additional evidence that IML effectively reduces BPSD, although the effect is short‐lived. As IML rarely has negative side effects, is highly accepted and easily implemented, IML should be integrated into the everyday care routines for people with dementia. Clinical Trial Registration: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00013793; ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN59052178. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Mental health problems are increasing at an alarming rate, calling for the need for more cost‐effective and easily accessible interventions. Visual images and sounds depicting nature have been found to have positive effects on individuals' mood and well‐being; however, the combined effects of images and sounds have been scarcely investigated. This study therefore aimed to compare the mood effects of viewing nature‐related soothing images versus listening to soothing sounds versus a combination of both. Methods: In this study, 149 participants aged 18–83 years old (M = 35.88, SD = 15.63; 72.5% female, male 26.8%,.7% transgender) were randomised into three intervention conditions: images only, sounds only or combined (images and sounds). Baseline depressive and anxiety symptoms were indexed, and four outcome variables (positive affect, negative affect, serenity affect and depressive mood states) were measured pre‐ and post‐intervention. Results: Findings showed that all participants, regardless of group, reported a decrease in negative affect, positive affect and depressive mood as well as an increase in serenity affect (including feelings of soothe). However, there were no group differences. Exploratory analyses found that individuals with higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms at baseline experienced greater reduction in negative affect and depressive mood state, as well as a larger increase in serenity affect. Conclusions: These findings therefore provide preliminary evidence that, upon further research and development, images and sounds depicting nature can potentially be developed for use as an effective tool to improve mood and well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Attachment is a lasting psychological and emotional bond that impacts a child's social, emotional, and cognitive development. Maternal‐fetal attachment is a precursor to this bond that is regarded as a predictor for mother‐infant relating postbirth. Although previous studies have investigated use of music interventions to support maternal‐fetal attachment, no study to date has investigated the use of maternal songwriting to support this bond during pregnancy. Methods: Four pregnant women were recruited to this pilot study. Each woman participated in 2 songwriting workshops with the aim of writing an original song to their fetus. Following the workshops, experiences of using songwriting for the purposes of supporting bonding were investigated through individual semistructured interviews and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results: Analysis of semistructured interviews with pregnant women revealed 3 main themes: song singing promotes physical connection with the fetus; songwriting encourages open communication with the fetus; and songwriting can create a musical legacy within families. Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind that investigated maternal songwriting to support bonding during pregnancy. Findings indicated that songwriting has the potential to support such attachment due to its capacity to enhance physical connection and open communication with the fetus, while also creating a musical legacy that can be used and passed on among other family members. Overall, songwriting may support pregnant women to draw on their inner resources to create such a bespoke musical gift to their unborn child. Further research around this topic is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on impact of music therapy on neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm babies, finding that while initial improvements were noted, there was no effect on language development by six months of age.

A study published in Acta Paediatrica explores the benefits of parents' live singing as a preventive and protective intervention for infants during painful procedures. The study found that maternal live singing reduced infants' pain behavior indexes and increased mother-infant social gaze, promoting attachment. Live singing also calmed mothers and reduced their anxiety during the procedure. The research suggests that integrating live parental singing into healthcare practices can support interpersonal closeness and modulate parents' and infants' arousal levels. However, the study has limitations, such as the short intervention time and the lack of instructions on vocal characteristics and singing style. Further research is needed to explore the analgesic effect of live parental singing. [Extracted from the article]