The Impact of Receptive Music Therapy in the ICU

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Music Therapy has an effect on pain, agitation, and vital signs of patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) when compared to usual care. Music Therapy is an intervention provided to patients after a referral by a nurse or attending physician. Patients will be assigned to two groups. The intervention group will receive 1 30 minute music therapy intervention provided by a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC). The music therapy intervention will consist of a relaxation experience with live music presented by the MT-BC on an acoustic guitar, and include improvised music and/or structured songs, created as an ongoing musical experience in response to the immediate needs of the patient. Vital signs, pain, and agitation are collected pre and post. Patients assigned to the control group will receive usual care for a patient in the ICU. Vital signs, pain, and agitation will be collected.