Music as an Adjunct to Ketamine Therapy for Chronic Pain

Overview

Intravenous (IV) ketamine is a treatment option for patients with chronic pain that does not respond to standard therapies, primarily working by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain. Beyond pain relief, ketamine can produce dissociative sensations, classifying it as an atypical psychedelic or mind-altering drug, and may enable patients to reprocess their pain similarly to experiences with traditional psychedelics. At the Montreal General Hospital's pain clinic, the investigators have observed patients frequently listening to music during ketamine infusions, and recent research indicates that music-especially when self-selected by patients-might provide additional pain-relieving benefits by influencing central mechanisms related to pain perception and interpretation. This intersection of music and pain relief is garnering substantial scientific interest as recent advances provide more insight into the neuroscience of music and its effects on brain regions involved in emotion, sensation, memory, and pain. This study aims to investigate the effects of music on chronic pain patients undergoing IV ketamine infusions at the Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit (AEPMU), specifically to determine whether the choice of music affects the intensity and duration of ketamine-induced pain relief. During the infusion (lasting 1 hour), patients will listen to a playlist delivered through specialized headphones, which will either consist of their own selected music (preferred music), music chosen by a music therapist, or no music at all, in a randomized order. Patients will track their pain levels throughout the infusion period and in the intervals between treatments (5 weeks) using standardized pain assessment tools. Additionally, the investigators will assess the subjective experiences of ketamine through interviews and qualitative analysis, while documenting and summarizing any adverse effects. The investigators hypothesize that listening to preferred music will enhance both the intensity and duration of pain relief from IV ketamine. To test this, the investigators will recruit patients already receiving repeated IV ketamine infusions for pain management at the AEPMU clinic. The first infusion will take place under usual conditions to establish a baseline. The infusions will occur in a dedicated room equipped with audio technology to ensure an immersive music experience.

Chronic pain impacts nearly eight million Canadians, with many suffering from moderate to severe pain for over a decade. Traditional treatments often fail, prompting researchers to explore alternatives like intravenous (IV) ketamine infusions, initially developed as an anesthetic and now considered for conditions such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia. Short-term benefits of ketamine for pain relief have been observed, but its long-term effects, optimal dosages, and safety profiles remain under investigation. Ketamine's psychedelic properties have shown potential in treating psychiatric conditions, suggesting it might alter patient's psychological outlook on their pain. This study aims to investigate the potential synergistic effects of IV ketamine infusions combined with self-selected music on chronic noncancer pain. A total of 25 patients from the Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit (AEPMU) will participate in a pragmatic randomized crossover controlled trial involving four ketamine infusion sessions, each lasting one hour with a dosage of 0.5 mg/kg. The sessions will include a baseline control session with treatment as usual, and three different conditions: self-selected music, therapist-selected music, and silence. All participants will undergo the same therapeutic procedures in a controlled environment, with noise-cancelling headphones and dim lighting, to standardize the experience. Participants will create personal music playlists lasting at least an hour, comprising songs that they find highly pleasurable and conducive to relaxation. Alternatively, they will be exposed to therapist-selected playlists designed specifically for psychedelic therapy or silence, ensuring a controlled setting with no background noise. The study will also require participants to engage with their music playlist or silence for one day each week, in a relaxed setting, to revisit their infusion experience. To assess the effects, both quantitative and qualitative data will be collected, including pain intensity, mood, sleep, cognitive flexibility, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Participants will undergo semi-structured interviews one week post-infusion to evaluate patient benefits and any adverse effects of the ketamine and music interventions. This innovative approach seeks to enhance the understanding of how music can optimize the therapeutic potential of ketamine infusions, offering a novel avenue for managing chronic pain where conventional treatments have proven inadequate. The investigators anticipate that these findings will help optimize the use of IV ketamine at the AEPMU and in other settings where this treatment is available.