The psychological effects of anxiolytic music/imagery on anxiety and depression following cardiac surgery

This study was developed to assess two common emotions, anxiety and depression, often present in patients undergoing cardiac bypass surgery. The researcher used two standard profile tests, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), as well as a Self-Evaluation Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire (administered presurgery). The BDI-II and STAI were administered pre- and post-surgery to 30 coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients. Fifteen patients were exposed to anxiolytic music/guided visualization imagery tapes administered pre-, during, and post-surgery; 15 patients in a control group were exposed to healing music tapes. A comparison of the anxiety and depression scores before and after surgery indicated the extent to which emotions such as anxiety and depression were positively affected by anxiolytic music/guided visualization imagery tapes.; There were no significant findings to suggest that anxiolytic music/guided visualization tapes were better than music alone in reducing anxiety and depression in cardiac surgery patients. However, there was a positive correlation between anxiety and depression, indicating that increased anxiety was associated with increased depression. Also, there was a negative correlation between age and anxiety, meaning that older patients tended to be less anxious while younger patients tended to be more anxious. However, no significant associations were found among marital status, employment status, educational status, job status, overall health, anxiety, and depression.; These findings suggest that music tapes alone may be effective in reducing anxiety and depression in cardiac surgery patients. In addition, there is a direct link in anxiety and depression scores and the effect of age on anxiety. A larger population would be necessary to ascertain the relationship of one to another. Moreover, the STAI and BDI-II tests were shown to be effective tools for evaluating anxiety and depression in a surgical setting.