title: Randomized clinical trial examining the effect of music therapy in stress response to day surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Music therapy could reduce stress and the stress response. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of music therapy in alleviating stress during day surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients undergoing day surgery were randomized to one of three groups, each containing 20 patients. Before and during surgery, patients in group 1 listened to new age music and those in group 2 listened to a choice of music from one of four styles. Patients in group 3 (control group) heard the normal sounds of the operating theatre. Plasma levels of cortisol and subpopulations of lymphocytes were evaluated before, during and after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma cortisol levels decreased during operation in both groups of patients who listened to music, but increased in the control group. Postoperative cortisol levels were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (mean(s.d.) 14.21(6.96) versus 8.63(2.72) ng/dl respectively; P < 0.050). Levels of natural killer lymphocytes decreased during surgery in groups 1 and 2, but increased in controls. Intraoperative levels of natural killer cells were significantly lower in group 1 than in group 3 (mean(s.d.) 212.2(89.3) versus 329.1(167.8) cells/microl; P < 0.050).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perioperative music therapy changed the neurohormonal and immune stress response to day surgery, especially when the type of music was selected by the patient.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Surgery, Department of Surgical Science, L'Aquila University, L'Aquila, Italy. serglear@tin.it
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leardi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pietroletti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angeloni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Necozione
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ranalletta
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Del Gusto
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone