En eksperimentell undersøkelse av sammenhengen mellom musikk, smertetoleranse og smerteopplevelse.

Abstract

Aim: This study is an experimental investigation of the effects music listening has on pain tolerance and pain perception. The purpose behind this trial is to see if music can be used as an "audio analgesic" during painful procedures. Background: Previous studies indicated that music listening can be a useful tool in reducing both pain tolerance and pain perception related to e.g. postoperative and chronic pain. Method: A randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out with a convenience sample of 60 participants (39 males & 21 females) aged from 17-51. Each participant underwent three trials with induced cold pressor pain 1) under silent conditions, thereafter in randomized order 2) while listening to their preferred music and 3) under medical influence (low-dose Paracetamol) as an active placebo. Pain intensity and tolerance time was measured during the trials with a 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS). Before and after each trial, the participants also filled a questionnaire about their pain perception. Results: Listening to music was found to significantly increase the tolerance to the painful stimulus and the perceived pain was also reduced among both male and female participants. The participant also reported significally lower pain intensity (NRS-score) when listening to preferred music compared to paracetamol (p=.013). Conclusion: The results reflect that there is a tendency towards supporting music as a tool to suppress pain. When it comes to the effect of music, the study showed that the reduction in pain was small even though it was significant. This means that music is hardly good enough for strong pain stimuli, but it should also be tested with weaker pain stimuli than the cold-pressor.