Researchers at the University of Granada have proven that music therapy combined with other relaxation techniques based on guided imagery reduces significantly pain, depression and anxiety, and improves sleep among patients suffering from fibromyalgia. This is a pioneer experimental study in
University of Granada researchers have proven that music therapy combined with other relax techniques based on guided imagery reduces significantly pain, depression and anxiety, and improves sleep among patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Thus, this therapy enhances patients’ quality of life. This pioneer experimental study in
This research study was conducted with patients suffering from fibromyalgia from the provinces of
Treatment at home
The researchers applied a relaxation technique based on guided imagery and music therapy to patients, in a series of sessions conducted by a researcher. Patients were given a CD to listen at home. Then, researchers measured a number of variables associated to the main symptoms of fribromyalgia –as pain intensity, quality of life, impact of the condition on patient’s daily life, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, self-efficiency, well-being. Then, patients were given the chance to participate in their own treatment through an understanding of their condition.
Fibromyalgy is a chronic condition that affects and conditions patients’ social, personal and working life and requires a multidisciplinary approach developed by a team of physicians, pysiotherapists, experts in physical activity and sport, psychologists and nurses. According to
Anyway, researchers state that “further empirical research studies are needed to address other physiological variables associated with the well-being generated by these two techniques, and that analyse patients’ self-efficiency and personal power to get involved in their own treatment.
This piece of research was conducted by María Dolores Onieva Zafra, at the Department of Nursery of the University of Granada, and coordinated by professors Adelaida Castro Sánchez, Carmen Moreno y Guillermo Matarán. The results obtained in this study were published in the journal Pain Management Nursing.
Contact: María Dolores Onieva Zafra. Department of Nursery, University of Granada . E-mail address: Lolaonieva22@yahoo.es
