Abstract Details

Title Harnessing Music Therapy in Neurocritical Care to Improve Patient Recovery and Physiological Stability

Topic Neuro Trauma and Critical Care

Presentation(s) P8 - Poster Session 8 (8:00 AM-9:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 7-010

Objective To assess the impact of MT on patient engagement, emotional well-being, physiological parameters (heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, SpO2), and clinical recovery in a neurocritical care setting.

Background Music therapy (MT) has been shown to reduce anxiety, enhance well-being, and promote physiologic improvement for hospitalized patients. In neurocritical care, MT’s potential to promote patient and family connections, stabilize physiological parameters, and enhance clinical outcomes has not been studied. MT's integration into neurocritical care has the potential to improve emotional well-being while contributing to physiological stability and clinical recovery, particularly in patients with severe neurological conditions.

Design/Methods Retrospective chart review was performed on 63 patients who received 129 MT sessions at one neurocritical care unit. The patient cohort included diagnoses of intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, acute ischemic stroke, and autoimmune encephalitis. MT sessions were customized to patient preferences and clinical status, emphasizing cognitive engagement, emotional well-being, and family involvement. Pre- and post-session physiologic data were recorded, with trends analyzed in relation to clinical recovery markers including Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores.

Results MT sessions increased patient engagement with observed improvements in cognitive responsiveness (e.g., eye-tracking, hand gestures, emotional expressions). Families reported enhanced emotional connections and meaningful interactions during MT. Physiological parameters demonstrated stabilizing trends, with heart rate reductions noted in patients with elevated baselines, and modest reductions or stabilization in blood pressure. Respiratory rate and SpO2 remained stable. Some patients showed improved GCS scores after multiple MT sessions, suggesting MT’s role in cognitive recovery.

Conclusions This preliminary analysis suggests MT may enhance patient engagement, family interaction, and emotional well-being while promoting physiologic stabilization in neurocritical care. The observed improvements in GCS scores and physiological trends highlight MT’s potential as an adjunctive therapy, but prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and elucidate underlying mechanisms.

Authors/Disclosures
Kerry Devlin, PhD PRESENTER	Dr. Devlin has nothing to disclose.
Junaid Ansari, MD (LSU Health Shreveport)	Dr. Ansari has nothing to disclose.
Vishank A. Shah, MD (Johns Hopkins University)	Dr. Shah has nothing to disclose.
Rohan Mathur, MD (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Neurocritical Care)	Dr. Mathur has nothing to disclose.
Alexander Pantelyat, MD, FAAN (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)	Dr. Pantelyat has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of MedRhythms, Inc.. Dr. Pantelyat has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for MedRhythms, Inc.. Dr. Pantelyat has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Kelly & Ignoffo Law Group. The institution of Dr. Pantelyat has received research support from NIH/NIA.
Jose I. Suarez, MD, FAAN (Johns Hopkins Hospital)	Dr. Suarez has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Idorsia. Dr. Suarez has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for The Mayo Clinic.

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