Listening to music during intranasal (es)ketamine therapy in patients with treatment-resistant depression correlates with better tolerability and reduced anxiety

Listening to music during intranasal (es)ketamine treatment for therapy-resistant depression is linked to reduced anxiety and lower blood pressure, stable or increased dissociation, and tolerance for higher doses. In a review of 494 sessions from 37 patients, those who listened to music received higher average doses (131.5 mg vs. 116.7 mg), reported less anxiety (0.4 vs. 1.4 points), and had lower peak systolic blood pressure (137.9 vs. 140.3 mmHg) compared to those who did not. Music did not affect depression scores between sessions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough the effectiveness of (es)ketamine for therapy-resistant depression (TRD) has been established, potential treatment-limiting factors include side effects like dissociation, anxiety, or elevated blood pressure. Music can reduce stress and negative emotions as anxiety. This study aimed to investigate the impact of listening to music during intranasal (es)ketamine administration on both tolerability and efficacy.MethodsRecords of 494 sessions (of 37 patients) with intranasal (es)ketamine administration, each containing data of blood pressure measurements, DSS-IV (dissociation symptoms scale-IV), anxiety and euphoria analogue scale, MADRS (Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale) and BDI (Beck’s Depression Inventory) were evaluated.ResultsThe between-group analysis, comparing participants who listened to music with those who did not, revealed significant differences in the administered dose (p-value: 0.003, mean: 131.5 mg with music vs. 116.7 mg without music), scores on the DSS Item 1 (p-value: 0.005, mean: 3 points vs. 2.4 points), levels of anxiety (p-value: <0.001, mean: 0.4 points vs. 1.4 points), and measurements of maximal systolic blood pressure after administration (p-value: 0.017, mean: 137.9 mmHg vs. 140.3 mmHg). Listening to music had no impact on the MARDS-change score between the sessions.LimitationsKey limitations include a non-randomized naturalistic design and the non-standardized selection of music, which was based on individual patient preferences.ConclusionListening to music during intranasal (es)ketamine therapy appears to be linked to reduced anxiety and lower blood pressure, stable or increased dissociation levels, and improved tolerance for higher doses. These findings could potentially contribute to the optimization of (es)ketamine therapy, both in terms of treatment efficacy and managing side effects.