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The Danish National Research Foundation’sCenter of Functionally Integrative NeuroscienceUniversity of Aarhus / Aarhus University Hospital
www.cfin.au.dk
Music for improvement of trauma-related sleep problemsJespersen, K. V.1 & Vuust, P.1,2
1Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, University of Aarhus, Denmark 2The Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus, Denmark
Sleep problems are highly prevalent in modern society, especially among persons with psychiatric disorders1. Persons who have experienced severe trauma often have great difficulties sleeping, and nightmares and insomnia symptoms are part of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Poor sleep quality can result in negative consequences such as fatigue, dysphoria, impaired memory and reduced immune-system functioning1. Therefore, viable interven-tions to improve sleep quality are of great value to both the individual and society. Studies have found that music listening can improve sleep in persons with sleep problems due to depression2, skizophrenia3 and physical abuse4, but the effect on trauma-related sleep problems has not yet been studied.
The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of bedtime music listening on sleep quality in traumatized refugees.
An experimental repeated measures design was used, and the dependent variable 'sleep quality' was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Fifteen traumatized refugees with sleep problems participated in the study, and the intervention group received a music player designed to be used in bed every night and an ergonomic pillow. The control group received only the pillow. We used preselected instrumental music with a slow tempo, stable dynamics and a simple structure.
The participants listening to music experienced a significant improvement of sleep quality from pre to post intervention. No change was found in the control group. The data showed a significant pretest difference between the groups, with the music group experiencing more sleeping problems prior to the intervention. Still, both groups suffered from considerable sleeping difficulties with scores well above the score 5 that separates 'good' and 'poor' sleepers5. To control for this pretest difference a change score was calculated and statistical comparisons revealed that the music group experienced significantly more improvement in sleep quality than the control group (t (13) = 2.25; p < .05).
Our findings indicate that listening to slow relaxing music at bedtime can have a positive effect on subjective sleep quality in traumatized refugees. In line with former studies, the results provide evidence for the use of music as an non-pharmacological intervention for sleep problems. When considering the invalidating effect of sleep problems along with several other stressing life circumstances in the population of traumatized refugees, music provides a low-cost, safe and pleasant intervention that is easy to implement. The present findings also provide an optimistic basis for further research on the impact of music on sleep.
Picture 1. The music player and the pillow used in the study. The music player and the ergonomic pillow were used by the participants in the intervention group. The control group used only the ergonomic pillow.
BACKGROUND RESULTS
AIM
METHOD
Figure 2 Global PSQI scores during intervention.Higher scores reflect more sleep problems and a score above 5 indicates poor sleep quality. A significant reduction in sleep problems was found in the music group (t (8) = 3.34; p < .01), but not in the control group. There was a significant pretest difference between the music- and control group with the music group experiencing significantly more sleep problems. For more results see Jespersen & Vuust (2012)6.
CONCLUSIONS
References: 1Mai, E & Buysse, D.J. (2008). Insomnia: Prevalence, impact, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis and evaluation. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 3(2), 167-174.2Deshmukh, A.D., Sarvaiya, A.A., Seethelakshmi, R. & Nayak, A.S. (2009). Effect of indian classical music on quality of sleep in depressed patients. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 18(1), 70-78.3Bloch et al. (2010). The effects of music relaxation on sleep quality and emotional measures in people living with schizophrenia. Journal of Music Therapy, 47(1), 27-52.4Hernández-Ruiz, E. (2005). Effect of music therapy on the anxiety levels and sleep patterns of abused women in shelters. Journal of Music Therapy, 42(2), 140-158.5Buysse et al. (1989). The Pittsburgh sleep quality index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Research, 28(2), 193-213.6Jespersen, K.V. & Vuust, P. (2012). The effect of relaxation music listening on sleep quality in traumatized refugees: A pilot study. Journal of Music Therapy 49(2), 205-229.
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Acknowledgments:The present study was conducted in collaboration with Integrationsnet – a part of the Danish Refugee Counsil. Financial support was received from Trygfonden and The Danish Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs.
Figure 1 Study designThe intervention period was three weeks. Data on sleep quality was gathered once a week. Contact: Kira Vibe Jespersen, MSc, Phd student. Mail: [email protected]
