Effects of Different Types of Music Therapy Combined With Mindful Breathing on Delirium, Pain, and Anxiety in ICU Patients

Delirium is the most common and severe neuropsychiatric symptom occurring in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Research in the United States indicates that the incidence of ICU delirium can reach as high as 87%. In Taiwan, the incidence rate is 75.6% in medical ICUs and 41.7% in surgical ICUs. On average, patients develop delirium 2.6 days after admission. Delirium not only negatively impacts patients-leading to prolonged mechanical ventilation, increased complications, and higher hospital mortality rates-but also increases the physical and mental burden on family members and the clinical pressure on healthcare staff. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend prioritizing non-pharmacological interventions to prevent delirium. Among these interventions, music is considered one of the most promising approaches because it is low risk, low cost, and easy to implement in the ICU setting. Several international studies have supported the potential benefits of music listening for delirium prevention; however, the effectiveness of such interventions remains inconclusive. Mindfulness is another non-pharmacological strategy that intentionally redirects attention to present-moment bodily sensations. Among various mindfulness practices, mindful breathing exercises are particularly suitable for ICU patients. Patients only need to adopt a comfortable position in bed and, under guidance, focus their attention on each inhalation and exhalation, which can quickly bring their awareness back to the present sensations of the body. Incorporating mindful breathing exercises into the procedures before and after music listening may serve as an adjunct to facilitate emotional regulation and awareness of present-moment experience, thereby enhancing patients' engagement and attentional focus during the music-listening context.

In Taiwan, existing studies on delirium prevention have mainly employed multicomponent care bundles, and empirical evidence on music as a single intervention remains lacking. Given that scholars at home and abroad have indicated that musical preference and national culture influence patients' psychological responses to music, and in view of the aforementioned research gap as well as clinical feasibility and utility, this study proposes to use classical music and Taiwan-localized music as intervention modalities, combined with mindful breathing exercises before and after music listening. The study will examine the effects of different types of music on the occurrence and severity of delirium, and further compare the intervention effectiveness of classical versus Taiwan-localized music, as well as explore their potential benefits for anxiety and pain. It is hoped that this work will fill the current gap in research on music-based interventions for ICU patients with delirium in Taiwan and provide an evidence-based repertoire of music selections for clinical practice.