Measuring Effects of music-Listening on Distress after Intensive Care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measuring the Effects of music-Listening On Distress after Intensive Care (MELODIC): A single-case experimental design study.
IRAS ID
361191
Contact name
Joanna Rickman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 28 days
Research summary
Intensive Care Units (ICUs) exist to support people needing a greater level of medical care whilst in hospital. They can be busy and noisy environments and people may need complicated medical interventions to help them recover. This can be a challenging experience, leading to psychological difficulties like post-traumatic stress (PTS), anxiety, and depression that can last beyond their discharge from hospital. Whilst peer-led groups exist to support individuals after discharge, typically people cannot attend these groups until 3-6 months after returning home. Therefore, considering ways to support people during this early discharge period is important. Research has suggested that listening to individualised music playlists in ICU can help to reduce psychological difficulties, and so the aim of the current study is to investigate whether music-listening may also be effective for reducing psychological distress post-ICU discharge.
Up to 9 individuals previously admitted to an ICU, but who have not yet participated in usual recovery groups, will be recruited to take part in the study. They will be randomly allocated to continue with their normal routines for 5, 8, or 12 days (baseline phase), prior to the introduction of a two-week music listening intervention. Daily distress levels will be captured on a visual scale across baseline, intervention and follow-up phases, and psychological questionnaires will also measure changes in PTS, anxiety, depression and quality of life between each phase. The data will be analysed visually and through statistical methods to establish any change following the intervention. It is hoped that this research will address a gap in the current evidence-base and, if shown to be effective, offer a low-cost way for the NHS to support individuals at a vulnerable point in their ICU recovery.
REC name
Wales REC 1
REC reference
26/WA/0097
Date of REC Opinion
6 May 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion