The Influence of Music Choice on Pain Tolerance in the Context of Social Background

Markus Klimek84 enrolled

Overview

This study will investigate the effect of different music on the pain tolerance during an increasing electric stimulus in healthy individuals, taking social background into account.

The implementation of music in health care settings has shown promising results in alleviating stress, anxiety, and pain-related outcomes. However, the heterogeneity in music selection and characteristics across clinical trials has made it difficult to draw direct comparisons between different music interventions. Additionally, the influence of social background on music perception remains largely unexplored, despite its potential significance. Therefore, a collaboration of medical and sociological experts propose a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of two different music interventions on pain tolerance, taking into account the participants' social backgrounds. The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of self-chosen and researcher-chosen music compared to a control intervention (podcast) on pain tolerance among healthy female volunteers at the outpatient clinic of the Center of Pain Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Pain Analgesia

Interventions

Listening to musicOTHER

All participants will listen to self-chosen or researcher-chosen music with noise-cancelling headphones (JBL Tune 770NC). The music will be administered for 20 minutes before participants receive increasing electric pain stimuli.

Listening to a podcastOTHER

ln the control condition, participants will listen to a podcast with noise-cancelling headphones (JBL Tune 770NC). The podcast will be administered for 20 minutes before participants receive increasing electric pain stimuli.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 60 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Between 18 and 60 years of age * Female * Sufficient knowledge of the Dutch language to understand the study documents (in the judgement of the attending physician or researcher) * Provision of written informed consent by subject Exclusion Criteria: * Significant hearing impairment * Current complaints of tinnitus * Current use of analgesic medication * Presence of acute or chronic pain * Current treatment by a medical specialist or general practitioner * History of cardiac disease of arrhythmias * (Suspected) pregnancy * Diagnosed psychiatric or neurological impairments * Electric implants (e.g. pacemakers)

Locations (1)

Erasmus Medical Center

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pain tolerance in amperage

The primary object of this study is the pain tolerance by increasing electric stimuli. The measurement will be performed after each intervention while participants are still listening to the music or podcast. Each measurement will be performed three times. Results will be reported in amperage and analyzed with an explorative approach looking at social background.

Time frame: During the intervention, after listening 20 minutes to the music/ podcast. Measured at the same day as the experiment.

Secondary Outcomes

Pain intensity

Pain intensity will be measured using the Numeric Rating Scale. Values range from 0 to 10, with higher values indicating higher pain intensity.

Time frame: Immediately after each increasing electric pain stimuli. Measured at the same day as the experiment

Pain unpleasantness

Pain unpleasantness will be measured using the Numeric Rating Scale. Values range from 0 to 10, with higher values indicating higher pain unpleasantness.

Time frame: Immediately after each increasing electric pain stimuli. Measured at the same day as the experiment.

Heart rate variability (HRV)

HRV, the variation in time between adjacent heartbeats, can be used as a marker for autonomic function. Furthermore, an increase of HRV has been found after music interventions, possibly due to the effect on the parasympatic nervous system. HRV will be measured continuously using an Acentas Chest Strap (BM innovations GmbH).

Time frame: During the intervention. Measured at the same day as the experiment.

Anxiety measured with State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)-6

The STAI-6 questionnaire is a validated and frequently used questionnaire to assess anxiety. The questionnaire comprises six items and the total scores ranges from 20 to 80, with higher score indicating a higher level of anxiety.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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