Effect of Music Therapy Plus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors on Emotion and Burn Wound Healing in Burn Patients

Objective To investigate the effect of music therapy plus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) on emotion and burn wound healing in burn patients. Methods Moderate and severe burn inpatients, aged 12-60 years were selected. Emotional problems were then measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety within three days after burn injury. Burn patients with depression and anxiety were randomly allocated into the trial group (28 patients) and the control group (27 patients). Music therapy and SSRIs plus conventional burn care were applied to the trial group, and conventional burn care to the control group, both for 30 days. The scores of anxiety, depression and the degree of burn wound healing were assessed.Results The differences of depression score and anxiety score before and after treatment were 13.7±6.43 and 6.43±2.72 respectively in the trial group, and 4.74±6.75 and 4.44±3.36 respectively in the control group. This showed both scores significantly improved compared with the control group (P0.05). The time for burn wound healing was shortened in the treatment group (P0.05).The anxiety score was positively correlated with burn index, and so was the depression score (P0.05). Conclusions The anxiety and depression scores are positively correlated with the burn index. Music therapy plus SSRIs can ameliorate the emotional problems (depression and anxiety), and shorten the time for burn wound healing.