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

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.